The Castro de S. Lourenço in the district of Esposende is part of a series of hill forts which controlled the region’s coastal shipping route. The site gives a great panoramic view and control over both the coastal area and the estuary of the Cávado river. The coastal plane is very narrow here and the hill fort is on the last western slopes before the plane. The prehistoric settlement played an important role in both trade and administration. It was in use from the Late Bronze Age up until the 5th century AD. In the Roman Era the architecture/ urbanism of the Castro de S.