Aquae Flaviae

Aquae Flaviae

The landscaped springs of the ancient Roman thermals
Alternate name	Aquæ Flaviæ
Location	Chaves
Region	Trás-os-Montes
Type	Settlement
History
Cultures	Roman

Aquae Flaviae (or Aquæ Flaviæ) is the ancient Roman city and former bishopric (now a Latin Catholic titular see) of Chaves, a municipality in the Portuguese district of Vila Real.

The northwest peninsular region is an area of hot springs and Roman settlements linked to the exploitation of valuable natural resources.

Aquae Flaviae was the principal municipium civitas in the northwest (from epigraphic findings) implanted in the Trás-os-Montes, on a small hill on the banks of the River Tâmega, in the Roman province of Gallaecia. This was a fertile area, where hot springs abound, in addition to a mining region responsible for the extraction of gold. It is also located in a strategic place between the Roman cities of Bracara and Asturica, as well as the mining districts of Três Minas and Jales, located southwest of the civitates.

Little is known of the urban fabric although there are some important points: an aqueduct supplied water from a reservoir and dam in Abobeleira, there was a theatre/amphitheatre, vestiges of a necropolis and sections of a wall.

With respect to the thermal activity, the lack of archaeological excavations means that little is known as of the alleged ancient Roman baths. Modern excavations have begun to uncover the remains of another Roman baths structure associated with a hot spring in Largo do Arrabalde consisting of large pavement slabs and a block of opus caementicium associated with a thermal spring. These are the first known thermal remains safely within Chaves. Further, within the civitates are many complicated votive epigraphs which respond to thermal worship. There are two inscriptions dedicated to nymphs, a lost inscription dedicated to Tutela and another to Isis, that suggest a thermal cult.

Architecturally, the most notable feature of this city, is the bridge of Trajan, over the Tâmega River, whose existence marked a period of exceptional development within the city. Functioning as a crossroads, it controlled the routes to the mining districts. The remains of two epigraphic inscriptions are located on the bridge, commemorating the construction or remodelling by Emperor Trajan, as well as another that aroused various interpretations, the Padrão dos Povos. The Padrão dos Povos mentions the civitates dependant of Aquae Flaviae: Aquiflavienses, Avobrigenses, Bibali, Coelerni, Equaesi, Interamici, Limici, Naebisoci, Querquerni and Tamagani, as well as the Roman Legio VII Gemina Felix legion.