Caldas de Reis in Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)

Mansio de Aquis Celenis

— Via Romana XIX —

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 10, 2023

1. Mansio de Aquis Celenis Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Un percorrido dende Braga ata lugo pola antiga Vía Romana XIX

Unha mansio ou mansión era unha infraestrutura destinada a acubillar e servirlles de lugar de descanso ós usuarios das vías en época romana, neste caso os da Vía XIX. Dependendo da súa importancia algunhas contaban con cortes para os cabalos, obradoiros para reparar as carruaxes, almacéns, tabernae ou estancias termais.

Na vila de Caldas de Reis localízase un importante núcleo viario estratexicamente situado no centro da rexión dos Cileni, que con posterioridade se convertiría nunha das máis antigas sedes episcopais da Gallaecia.

Ademais da Vía XIX, dende esta poboación partía a Vía XX, tamén denominada "Per Loca Maritima" en dirección a Catoira.

A mansión de Aqvis Celenis tiña un claro carácter termal, viario, produtivo (nas inmediacións da Igrexa de Santa María foron escavados os restos dun forno romano de material de construción) e quizais político-administrativo (capital da civitas).

Da súa existence importancia deixan novas as fontes escritas clásicas e tardoantigas, ase como o importante

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conxunto de epígrafes aparicido na vila, do que cabe destacar; o Miliario de Constantino; unha estela funeraria de tres escravos do Centurion da Legio X Gemina Marco Auresio Máximo; un ara dedicada ó deis mercurio e unha estela funeraria doutro soldado da Legio X Gemina.

O nucleo habitacional romano estaría organizadar dun eixe único lonxitudinal que discorrería paralelo o razado orixinario da Vía XIX, na actualidade coincidente coa Rua Real.

(English translation:)
A route from Braga to Lugo along the ancient Via Romana XIX

A mansio or mansion was an infrastructure complex intended to shelter and serve as a place of rest for road users in Roman times, in this case those of the Via XIX. Depending on their importance, some had stables for horses, workshops for repairing carriages, warehouses, taverns or thermal baths.

In the town of Caldas de Reis, there is an important road hub strategically located in the center of the Cileni region, which would later become one of the oldest episcopal seats in Gallaecia.

In addition to the Roman road Via XIX, Via XX, also called Per Loca Maritima, running towards the direction of Catoira, started from this town.

The mansion of Aqvis Celenis clearly had thermal baths, and transportation and productive functions

Mansio de Aquis Celenis Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 10, 2023

2. Mansio de Aquis Celenis Marker - wide view

(in the vicinity of the Church of Santa Maria, the remains of a Roman furnace for making construction materials were excavated), and perhaps a political-administrative function (capital of the civitas), as well.

Written sources reveal its importance in classical and late antiquity, as do also an important set of epigraphs found in the town, of which are worth noting; the Miliario of Constantine; a funerary stela of three slaves of a Centurion of Legio X Gemina Marcus Auresius Maximus; an altar dedicated to the god Mercury, and a funerary stele of another soldier of Legio X Gemina.

The Roman settlement was organized along a single longitudinal axis that ran parallel to the original route of Via XIX, which currently coincides with the Rua Real.

Erected by Deputacion Pontevedra.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 42° 36.219′ N, 8° 38.586′ W. Marker is in Caldas de Reis, Galicia, in Pontevedra. Marker is at the intersection of Rúa Real and Calle Laureano Salgado, on the left when traveling north on Rúa Real. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Rúa Real 1, Caldas de Reis, Galicia 36650, Spain. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Macías O Namorado / Macías the Lover

Mansio de Aquis Celenis Marker - wider view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, September 11, 2023

3. Mansio de Aquis Celenis Marker - wider view

(approx. 15 kilometers away); Antiga Cárcere /Antigua Carcel / Former Jail (approx. 15 kilometers away); Pazo do Concello / Palacio del Ayuntamiento / Town Hall Square (approx. 15.1 kilometers away); Alfolí do Sal (approx. 15.1 kilometers away); Rosalia de Castro (approx. 15.1 kilometers away); Convento do Carme / Convento del Carmen / Carme Convent (approx. 15.1 kilometers away); Porta do Relox / Puerta de Reloj / Former Clock Gate (approx. 15.2 kilometers away); Ponte de Santiago / Puente Santiago / Saint Jame’s Bridge (approx. 15.2 kilometers away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Vía XIX (Wikipedia, in Spanish).

Excerpt (in translation): The Via XIX was a Roman road from the time of Augustus, described in the Antonine Itinerary, which linked the cities of Bracara Augusta (Braga), Ponte de Lima, Tude (Tuy), Turoqua (Pontevedra), Aquis Celenis (Caldas de Reyes), Iria, Martiae, Lucus Augusti (Lugo) and Asturica Augusta (Astorga).

(Submitted on February 2, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on February 1, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.