A 4th-century Roman villa, which may have been built over an earlier 1st-century villa, itself constructed on a Late Neolithic settlement.
The complex was rebuilt in the first half of the 2nd century with a peristyle-centered layout and was likely destroyed in the mid-4th century. It underwent modifications during the 2nd century and was fully renovated in the 360s AD.
In the Middle Ages, the site was occupied by a monastery dedicated to Saint Cucufate, which remained active until the 16th century. While the monastic occupation severely damaged the rural sections of the complex, it contributed to preserving the Roman residential structure, which still retains complete vaulted ceilings.
The villa of São Cucufate is a rectangular building measuring approximately 105 × 25 meters, constructed on two floors. The lower, vaulted level likely served as storage space and accommodation for servants, while the upper floor functioned as the owner’s residence. The façade features a long open terrace accessed by three staircases.
Located within the territory of Pax Iulia (modern Beja), the villa almost certainly belonged to a prominent family from that Roman city. A medieval necropolis, heavily damaged in the 14th and 15th centuries, was also identified at the site.