Conímbriga is one of the largest Roman settlements excavated in Portugal, and was classified as a National Monument in 1910. Located in the civil parish of Condeixa-a-Velha e Condeixa-a-Nova, in the municipality of Condeixa-a-Nova, it is situated from the municipal seat and from Coimbra (the Roman town of Aeminium).
Conímbriga is a walled urban settlement, encircled by a curtain of stone structures approximately long. Entrance to the settlement is made from vaulted structures consisting of two doors (one on hinges), at one time defended by two towers. The walls are paralleled by two passages, channelled to excavations, that remove water infiltration from the walls. The urban settlement consists of various structures, including a forum, basilica and commercial shops, thermal spas, aqueducts, insulae, homes of various heights (including interior patios) and domus (such as the Casa dos Repuxos and Casa de Cantaber), in addition to a paleo-Christian basilica.
A visitors' centre (which includes restaurant/café and gift-shop) was constructed to display objects found by archaeologists during their excavations, including coins, surgical tools, utensils and ceramics.
History
235px|left|thumb|Votive and ceremonial structures
235px|left|thumb|A maquette of the conceived layout of the forum at Conímbriga
thumb|left|235px|The interior of the Casa dos Repuxos.
thumb|left|235px|A view of the Monographic Museum at Conímbriga.
Antiquity
Like many archaeological sites, Conímbriga evolved sequentially and built up by successive layers, with the primary period of occupation beginning in the 9th century BCE; during this period the area was occupied by the Castro culture. Before the Roman occupation, the indigenous Conii peoples (who would later settle in southern Portugal) lived here. At the time, Conímbriga was already a built-up settlement. The Romans introduced the formal organization of space to the settlement. Owing to the peaceful nature of rural Lusitania, Romanisation of the indigenous population was quick and Conímbriga became a prosperous town. Many of the new colonists (such as the Lucanus, Murrius, Vitellius and Aponia families) came from the Italian peninsula and intermarried with local inhabitants, (such as the Turrania, Valeria, Alios and Maelo families).
Construction of the began in the 2nd century, likely over a pre-existing structure.]]In 1976, the gazebo and interior of the older Monographic Museum was repaired.
Most of the private and public buildings in Conímbriga featured abundant decorative materials, including mosaics, sculptures and painted murals. The 5000-person-capacity theatre was , and underground. Some rural homes on the site were built using part of the structure.
The robust, rustic construction of the city walls suggests that they were built in a hurry.