Rabaçal Museum - Area : Penela City Hall

Picture: Main facade of the Museum
Picture: Lateral entrance of the Museum
Picture: Presentations Room

Museum

The exhibition Roman Villa of Rabaçal: once upon a time... which is on display in this interpretation centre, or museum (Rua da Igreja / Rabaçal) is one of three sites which, taken together, help us to understand the Roman presence in this area.

The articles on display do not make their function obvious. Much evidence for this has been lost in the mists of time, back in the era of those who once used them. They have been gathered together, and are now organised, living in a space especially designed for them.

It is for this reason that the other two focuses, the places they came from, and the space for comprehending them, must also be visited. We would suggest, therefore, that you first go to the archaeological site (Lugar da Ordem / Rabaçal), which includes the manor house, the baths, the servants' quarters and water-raising systems. A second excursion should be made to marvel at the panoramic views from Chanca, with a belvedere giving information on the landscape, roads and village.

You will see that many facets of Mediterranean culture are established in the Rabaçal valley, such as: olive groves, vineyards, cornfields, vegetable gardens, broad beans, lupins, chickpeas, pumpkins, weeping willows, the use of wild plants, the threshing-floors and their mini-parapets, tent-shaped shelters of maize stalks, and round stacks of maize stalks and leaves, norias (water-wheels) and lever-systems for raising water, wells, springs, washing places and mill-streams. beehives. pastures for young livestock.

Stay awhile and enjoy the silent charm of this karst landscape, dry, grey, undulating and bare, wrought by so much, over so many centuries.
(PESSOA, RODRIGO, SANTOS, 2001, p. 7-8)