Cero de Vila

A visit to the roman ruins of Cerro da Vila is one for the history buffs, as it's crammed full of facts and its museum is filled to the brim with artefacts. You'll find out how Vilamoura got its name when you see the ruins of the Roman villa that is the main attraction at the site, dating back to 1st century A.D. You'll see virtually all of the foundations of the villa, including a swimming pool, public baths and fish salting tanks. There are also some burial grounds dating back to the Bronze Age. As you're looking around you'll see that everything is signposted in both Portuguese and English so you'll be able to understand everything about the facts on display and there are also artists impressions of what the site would have been like, so you can really picture yourself there. The site is owned by archaeologists who are constantly uncovering new artefacts and these are on display in the museum for all to see. This is a lovely hidden gem that you might stumble upon by accident when exploring the nearby marina but well-worth the stay, so take your time and get lost in the history.