The District of Setúbal in Roman Times

Lying at the entry to one of Portugal’s two most important estuaries, that of the Sado river giving access to Portugal’s interior, Roman Setúbal was of strategic importance second only to Lisbon.

However the district’s economic importance was huge because here was located the highest concentration of fish-salting industries in the whole of the Roman Empire. This Roman industrial complex stretches over the two banks of the river along the whole of the estuary, and must have employed a considerable proportion of the population in fishing, salting, producing the containers for export, and exporting, all on a massive scale.

Numerous fish preparation units have been discovered. An especially well-preserved example in Setúbal itself may be seen beneath the floor of the Tourism Office, and another is part of the Roman villa complex at Troia opposite Setúbal harbour.