Termas romanas de São Pedro do Sul

: projeto de reabilitação

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to observe and analyze the structural interventions done over the roman ruins of Termas de S.Pedro do Sul, which were listed as national monument in 1938. Built in the early years of Christian age, in the beginning of the 1st century, in a delightful site down by the Vouga River, these ancient hot spring resorts – Caldas de Lafões- are considered the most important ones in Portugal. Although object of some additional construction work, they have been kept active for centuries, since the moment of their foundation up until the end of the nineteenth century. From the fifties on, mainly during the three decades that followed them, several excavation expeditions have been done on the site, which led to the discovery of relevant elements that help us understand how that specific place was occupied throughout the centuries (Frade 1992:518) . One considers that the facilities, regarded as cultural heritage, must be, such as they were in the past, treated as a chief component of the community in which they are inserted in. So, we suggest a new programmatic use for them – an Interpretation Center – which we think would be appropriate both in its particular historical context as well as in the region. The Termas de S.Pedro do Sul are held both as a touristic destiny and as health target choice, which makes this process even more interesting because it would enable local leisure industry to benefit from this initiative and, at the same time, offer us the chance to honor the venue´s origin and memories.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Ana Pinho (Supervisor) & João Mendes Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)