Tower of Centum Cellas

Centum Cellas, also referred to as Centum Cellæ, Centum Celli, or Centum Cœli, is a Roman villa rustica that dates back to the 1st century AD, located in the Mount of Santo Antão in Belmonte, Castelo Branco District, Portugal [1]. The tower-like structure is one of the best preserved Roman monuments in the country [1]. The core building has a rectangular floor plan and was two-storey; the second floor is probably a medieval addition [1]. Two friezes separate the floors [1]. The tower is 12 m high and originally stood in a building complex (the villa rustica) [1]. On three sides it was surrounded by extensions, of which only the foundations are visible [1]. Centum Cellas is listed as a National Monument by the Portuguese Government under the decree nº 14 425, of 15 October 1927 [1].