Roman Ruins of Villa Áulica and Convent of São Cucufate
| Ruins of the Convent of São Cucufate (Ruínas do Convento de São Cucufate) |
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| Archaeological Ruins of São Cucufate, Ruins of Santiago, Roman Villa of São Cucufate | |
| Ruins (Ruinas) | |
 The Roman ruins of São Cucufate, with the principal elevation of the villa Áulica
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| Official name: Estação Arquelógica do Convento de São Cucufate | |
| Named for: Cucuphas, martyred 4th century Spanish saint | |
| Nickname: São | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Alentejo |
| Sub-region | Baixo Alentejo |
| District | Beja |
| Municipality | Vidigueira |
| Location | Vila de Frades |
| - elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°13′24.97″N 7°50′43.08″W / 38.2236028°N 7.8453000°WCoordinates: 38°13′24.97″N 7°50′43.08″W / 38.2236028°N 7.8453000°W |
| Length | 115.12 m (378 ft), Southwest-Northeast |
| Width | 169.93 m (558 ft), Northwest-Southeast |
| Architects | unknown |
| Style | Romanesque architecture |
| Materials | Stone, Rock, Tile |
| Origin | c. 360 |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| For public | Public |
| Visitation | Closed (Mondays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, Ascension Thursday and 25 December) |
| Easiest access | Dirt road, off of EN258 (Vidigueira-Alvito), one kilometre from the civil parish seat of Vila de Frades |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Operator | Câmara Municipal de Vidigueira |
| Summer | Tuesday (2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.); Wednesday to Sunday (10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) |
| Winter | Tuesday (2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.); Wednesday to Sunday (10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; 2:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.) |
| Listing | Decree No. 36/383; DG 147, 28 June 1947 |
The Roman ruins of São Cucufate (or alternately, the Roman ruins of the Villa of São Cucufate, Ruins of Santiago, Archaeological ruins of São Cucufate or Roman villa of São Áulica) is a Romanesque archaeological site, located on the ruins of a Roman-era agricultural farm in the civil parish of Vila de Frades, in the municipality of Vidigueira, in the southern Alentejo, Portugal. The convent, which dates back to Middle Ages, was dedicated to the martyred saint Cucuphas.
Around the end of the 4th millennium, Neolithic clans had already occupied the areas of southern Alentejo, selecting this location, only temporarily, to base their activities.
The beginnings of the convent were laid down in the first century with the construction a small Roman villa. It followed the model of architectural design in that period: built around the baths and peristyle.
Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, construction occurred on what was later considered the second villa complex. The massive complex that is visible today dates from the mid-4th century. The bath renovations were never completed. The villa was abandoned in the mid-5th century or possible earlier at the end of the 4th century (Marceo, p. 130).
Around the 9th century, the convent was established on the grounds/ruins of the Roman villa, and which persisted until the late 12th century. In 1254, the ecclesiastical parish of São Cucufate was installed in the convent, under the supervision of the monastery of São Vicente de Fora. The Augustine canons that lived in the convent were later followed by Benedictine monks.
Around the 17th century, the buildings were abandoned by the monastic community, although one hermit monk remained. With a few discontinuities, transformations and adaptations, the occupation of this space extended until the 18th century, primarily since the contiguous area could be utilized for its rich soils and abundance of water, to establish a small garden and residence. It is certain that the chapel continued to serve the small local community until the 18th century.
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