On Tuesday 7th May, the Algarve Archaeological Association (AAA) will be presenting two lectures, in English, by Rui Roberto de Almeida and Alexandra Pires from the Municipal Museum of Loulé. The first lecture will be at 2.30pm at the Museu do Traje in São Bras de Alportel, the second lecture will be at 6pm at the Convento de São José in Lagoa.
Rui de Almeida and Alexandra Pires will be talking about the archaeological work and research developed at the “Casa das Bicas” in Loulé. The excavations that were carried out at various times between 2006 and 2019 revealed a public Islamic bathhouse from the 12th century AD and a noble house from the 15th/16th century (Casa Senhorial dos Barreto/Barreto Stately Home). The Islamic Bathhouse has recently been classified as a National Monument, as it is the only one of its kind and chronology known so far in Portugal.
Since 2015, the main objective of the work at the “Casa das Bicas” has been the restoration of the building and Islamic Baths and the creation of a museum. The aim of the project has been to allow public access and improve public awareness of this cultural heritage; this talk is therefore not based solely on an archaeological approach. Rui de Almeida and Alexandra Pires will also be highlighting some of the main issues encountered during the rehabilitation of the site, the bathhouse, and the overlying noble house. It was necessary to achieve a balance between the past and present, respecting and integrating the pre-existing remains and the architectural elements. This is the story of an emblematic site, from an archaeological ruin to a museum, belonging to the Municipal Museum of Loulé.
Alexandra Pires leads the Operational Unit of Archaeology and Museology at the Municipal Museum of Loulé. She has a degree in History with a specialisation in Archaeology from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Lisbon. For the past 15 years her work has primarily centred on the urban dynamics of the city of Loule. She is involved in teams producing exhibition content and is responsible for various activities relating to Loule’s heritage, with an emphasis on disseminating archaeological heritage. She was part of the team responsible for coordinating the temporary exhibition “With Feet on the Ground and Hands in the Sea: 6000 years of Quarteira’s History”, as well as for the long-term exhibition at the Islamic Baths and Barreto Stately Home.
Rui Roberto de Almeida has a degree in History/Archaeology, a master’s degree in Prehistory and Archaeology and a postgraduate degree in Tourism. He currently works in the Division of Culture, Museum and Heritage of Loule City Council and is a researcher at UNIARQ-Centre for Archaeology at the University of Lisbon. Over the last twenty years, Rui has focused his research on the Classical World, specifically studying the production and trade of food between Lusitania and provinces of the Roman Empire, which is also the focus of his doctoral research. He has also focused on the study of ceramics of Roman, Medieval and Modern date and conducted archaeological excavations and studies in Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands. He has undertaken various editorial projects including the exhibition “Loule. Territories, Memories, Identities”, as well as the long-term exhibition at the Islamic Baths and Barreto Stately Home. Alexandra and Rui are both currently working on developing the future museum program of the Loule Municipal Museum.
Non-members are welcome to attend AAA lectures for a 5-euro admission fee, with all money raised by the AAA being used for archaeological grants and speakers.
For more information contact algarvearchass@gmail.com, visit arquealgarve.weebly.com or Facebook 'Algarve Archaeological Association'.
Please check the website or Facebook page for any last-minute changes.
