the site, as part of the ZEP-Zona de Protecção Especial (Special Protection Zone) designation. On 1 February 1999, a dispatch (No.180/99) from the Ministries of Equipment, Planning and Territory Administration, Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Culture, recognized the importance of safeguarding the Roman ruins, and authorized the construction of an Interpretative Centre. The project began in 2000, in a project designed by architect Paula Santos, that included a 700 m2 space. Architecture Castelo Velho hill (245 metres) dominates the site that is one kilometre north-west from the urban centre of modern Santiago do Cacém, which overlooks the northern plain of Chãos Salgados. Miróbriga is situated in a privileged location, on the ancient roadways of the region with access to the coast. Within close proximity is the Windmill of Cumeadas. Forum To the east of the baths is a small, single-arch bridge, that provided access along the west–east access that leads to the Forum, an Imperial temple (to worship the Roman Emperors) and a temple dedicated to Venus. Between these two are the remains of an older temple dedicated to the local divinity. North of the forum are the ruins of the market and the visitor's houses, separated by another road. Baths The settlement is structured around Roman roads with many paved accesses. Around the west–east axis are the ruins of the residential homes. To the east, are the former baths constructed over a canal and composed of two buildings in a "L" shape ("Western Baths" and "Eastern Baths"). Each building has an entry into the massage hall, a gymnasium, changing room, the bathing space, which included the frigidarium (cold baths, tepidarium (warm baths) and caldarium (hot baths), and a communal latrine. The halls are warmed by a hypocaust system that heated the floors of baths, which was located in the south part of the buildings. It was a subterranean system formed by pillars and arches, with tile, that allowed the circulation of warm air to produce heated environments, supported by kilns. Hippodrome The Hippodrome was a rectangular space with curved seating on the northern end, while segmented seat on the south, used for chariot or horse races. It was a 370 metre by 75 metre space, bisected by a spine with posts on either end and a triumphal arch on the south entrance. Interpretative Centre The Interpretative Centre (the most recent addition) is located on an elevated