Imagine stepping back in time. You are standing before the Castro de Penices, a fortified settlement nestled on a spur. This ancient citadel, built by the Celts, has stood watch over this land for centuries.
The Castro de Penices, shrouded in mystery, tells a tale of resilience and adaptation. Its stone walls, approximately 3 meters wide, were vital to the safety of its inhabitants. These walls, a testament to the Celtic ingenuity, were built with two fronts and filled with soil and stones.
Life within its walls was bustling, a microcosm of Celtic society. Domestic structures, circular or oval in design, were built with perishable materials. Evidence of terracotta pavements, a simple form of flooring, has been uncovered. As time passed, the inhabitants transitioned from perishable materials to stone, indicating a shift towards a more permanent and stable way of life.
The Castro de Penices strategic location provided its inhabitants with a significant advantage. Its position on the spur, with three ditches and three slopes, offered protection from invaders. The visibility from its position, particularly to the north and west, was vast, allowing the inhabitants to see the surrounding lands. From this lookout point, they could spot approaching enemies and send warnings to other Celtic settlements like the Castros of Saia, Terroso, and Bagunte.
Today, the Castro de Penices stands as a silent sentinel, a reminder of a bygone era. It is a testament to the tenacity and resilience of the Celtic people who once called it home. As you stand here, imagine their life, their struggles, and their triumphs. Let the stones whisper their tales, and the wind carry their stories into the present.