Castro of Monte Castelo

The Castro of Monte Castelo is a fortified settlement in Guifoes, Matosinhos, on a hillside beside the Leca River in northern Portugal, covering approximately 8 hectares. Occupied continuously from before the 5th century BC through the 5th century AD, it saw significant development from the 1st century onward following integration into the Roman Empire. Defended by three lines of walls, the site includes a temple on the upper level, a ceramic oven, and a necropolis. Excavations since 2016 with the University of Porto revealed 1st-century house ruins and imported artifacts from southern Spain, Italy, and North Africa. Classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1971, the municipality acquired 80% of the site in 2024 for expanded research.