Archaeological Circuit of Castro da Cola, Ourique
Fernão Vaz 1
37º34'33.15"N /8º15'35.11"O
Free access
Reception and Interpretation Centre
Visits to this centre are free.
It closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, January 1, Easter Sunday, and December 25.
Summer (May 1 to September 15) – 9.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. / 3 p.m.-6.30 p.m.
Winter (September 16 to April 30) – 9.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m. / 2 p.m. -5.30 p.m.
About
Fernão Vaz 1
The funerary monument of Fernão Vaz 1 was destined for the collective burial of a human community during the Middle Neolithic Pleno (4th millennium B.C.). It is a dolmen with a small chamber with a rectangular plan. It has no traces of a corridor, and its entrance is delimited by two supports forming the doorframes. Around it, we find evidence of a tumulus (semi-circular artificial mound) made of earth and small schist stones.
Unlike what we find in Alto Alentejo, Ourique’s Megalithism is geologically constrained by the existence of schists, which usually do not allow obtaining large monoliths to build this type of structure, generally composed of small monuments.
Access
Prepare your visit
The archaeological circuit has a Reception and Interpretation Centre near the Church of Nossa Senhora da Cola. It can be visited by people with reduced mobility (wheelchairs, baby strollers).
For more information, contact
colaassociacao@gmail.com / cacmb.ourique@gmail.com
Jorge Silva – 963090894
Reduced mobility
The archaeological site of Castro da Cola is not accessible to people with reduced mobility (wheelchairs, baby strollers), and guided tours are not available.
Children should always be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Cautionary Note
Access to this archaeological site is facilitated by the owner of the land where it is located. Keep that in mind when you visit the site, respecting it and contributing to its cleanliness, maintenance, and preservation.
Support
RESEARCH
Bibliography & useful links
BEIRÃO, Caetano de Melo; SILVA, Carlos Tavares da (1978). O monumento megalítico II de Fernão Vaz (Ourique). In Setúbal Arqueológica, vol. IV, Museu de Arqueologia e Etnografia do Distrito de Setúbal, Setúbal, pp. 29-45. Disponível em: Consultar Artigo Completo → [Consultado em 02/06/2023].
CORREIA, Susana; ALFENIM, Rafael (2001). Circuito Arqueológico da Cola. In Património / Estudos, n.º 1, Instituto Português do Património Arquitetónico, Lisboa, pp. 53-54.
CORREIA, Virgílio Hipólito; PARREIRA, Rui (2002). Roteiros da Arqueologia Portuguesa, 8 – Cola. Circuito Arqueológico. Instituto Português do Património Arquitectónico (IPPAR), Lisboa, pp. 20-23.
RAPOSO, Jorge (2001). Sítios arqueológicos visitáveis em Portugal. In Almadan. 2ª série: 10, Almada, pp. 100-157. Disponível em: Consultar Artigo Completo → [Consultado a 22 de março de 2023].
https://arqueologia.patrimoniocultural.pt/index.php?sid=sitios&subsid=53494
https://arqueologia.patrimoniocultural.pt/index.php?sid=visitaveis&subsid=53494
https://www.patrimoniocultural.gov.pt/pt/patrimonio/itinerarios/alentejo-algarve/02/
http://www.cm-ourique.pt/pt/menu/322/circuito-arqueologico-da-cola.aspx