Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Site
The Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Site in Lisbon offers a unique underground journey through 2,500 years of the city’s continuous history.
The Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Site, located in the historic heart of Lisbon’s Baixa district, is one of the city’s most fascinating hidden treasures. Discovered during renovation works in the late 20th century, this site reveals more than 2,500 years of Lisbon’s continuous urban history beneath one of its busiest streets.
Today, the site is preserved and managed by the Millennium bcp Foundation and offers visitors a unique journey through layers of time. Excavations uncovered remains from different periods, including traces of Phoenician settlements, Roman fish-salting tanks, medieval walls, Renaissance structures and artefacts from Lisbon’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake.
Visitors can walk through the underground remains along carefully designed walkways that protect the delicate ruins while allowing a close look at ancient walls, wells, storage pits and everyday objects that tell the story of how Lisbon has evolved over centuries. The guided tours and multimedia resources help bring to life the people who lived and worked in this area from ancient times to the present day.
The Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Site is not only an archaeological treasure but also an outstanding example of how urban heritage can be protected and shared within a modern city. By opening this site to the public, the project highlights the importance of safeguarding hidden layers of history that lie beneath our feet.
As a candidate for the European Museum Academy’s Luigi Micheletti Award, the Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Site shows how archaeology can connect citizens to their city’s past and how thoughtful preservation can add new meaning to daily life in a busy urban centre. It allows visitors to discover Lisbon’s story in its streets and underground spaces.