By the time the Romans began occupying the Iberian peninsula around 130, the area was already an important community, designated "Ayre" or "Aritium", with river port that provided a military connection between Lisbon and Mérida. The destruction of the Roman fort was attributed to the invasion of Vandals, on their way to Andalusia. Of this Roman "civitas" there are still some buildings, house foundations and graves, underground galleries, likely the ruins of an aqueduct, military roads, and along the Tagus, there are markers to indicate a Roman bridge.