The 30+ best Roman Sites in Spain

Spain has numerous well preserved ancient Roman historical sites / ruins. Below follow the best preserved Roman sites found. Below each Roman site in Spain will be shortly introduced. 

For an overview of all Roman ruins around the Mediterranean Sea please consult our Roman sites map here.

For an introduction to the maps and an explanation of how the score per Roman ruin / Roman site for the table has been calculated please click here.

Detailed description of all Roman ruins in Spain 

1. Yacimiento Arqueológico de Ocuri (Ubrique) / Ocuri archaeological site

While recent research shows that Ocuri’s origins date back to at least the 6th century BC, most of the visible remains are from the Roman era. The city reached its peak in the 2nd century AD, a time when Roman influence dominated the Iberian Peninsula. Outside the city walls lies the necropolis, where a mausoleum stands. This structure housed urns containing cremated remains and possibly statues of the deceased, alongside offerings from family members. The town’s cyclopean wall, built during the Iberian period, was later modified. The main entrance was transformed during the 1st or 2nd century AD into a more grand and ceremonial gateway, befitting the city’s Roman character.

Ocuri

2. Archaeological Site of Munigua

Munigua, known as Municipium Flavium Muniguense, is an archaeological site located approximately eight kilometers from Villanueva de Río y Minas in the Sierra Norte region of Seville, Spain. The origins of Munigua can be traced back to pre-Roman times, with evidence of Iberian settlements on the site. The town flourished during the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.

Munigua: A Roman Mining Town in Spain

3. Tiermes Archaeological Site

The Archaeological Site of Termantia, today known as Tiermes, is located on the edge of the Duero Valley in Spain. During the Iron Age, it was a Celtiberian stronghold, strategically positioned on a sandstone hill. By the time Rome began its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, Termantia became an important target. In 98 BC, after the fall of Numantia, the Romans captured Termantia, forcing its inhabitants to relocate. The city slowly integrated into Roman society, paying tribute and undergoing gradual Romanization. From 70 BC onwards, major changes took place, with the construction of important public structures spread over the town’s terraces.

Tiermes: An Archaeological Insight into Roman Hispania

4. Parque Arqueológico La Alcudia / Alcúdia Archaeological Site

The archaeological site of La Alcudia (city of Ilici), located near Elche, Spain, covers an area of approximately 11 hectares. For centuries, the land was primarily used for agriculture and as a quarry to supply building materials for the surrounding region. However, in the late 19th century, the introduction of irrigation radically altered the landscape and led to the discovery of significant ancient relics. The most notable architectural features of the site include the Roman thermal baths, sections of the city wall, and residential complexes dating back to the Iberian era. One highlight is a section of the Roman wall near the Interpretation Centre, which served as the western boundary of the settlement.

La Alcudia: Archaeological Site of Ilici

5. Lucentum / Tossal de Manises

Lucentum, now known as El Tossal de Manises, was a Roman town located on a hill near the coast in modern-day Alicante. Its origins trace back to the late 5th century BC, although little is known about this early phase. Significant changes came in the 3rd century BC when a fortification system was built, including defensive towers and walls that enclosed the settlement. This phase marked the transformation of the site into a more structured urban center.

Lucentum: The Roman City of Alicante

6. Cologne Clunia Sulpicia

Clunia, formally known as Colonia Clunia Sulpicia, was an ancient Roman settlement situated at over 1,000 meters above sea level in the province of Burgos, Spain. It was one of the most prominent cities in the northern region of Hispania. Unlike other Roman conquests, Clunia was established anew without occupying earlier urban foundations. The city was characterized by its grand structures, including public baths, a basilica, a forum, a theater, and a large temple dedicated to Jupiter.

Colonia Clunia Sulpicia: Roman Heritage in Hispania

7. Ciudad Romana de Cáparra / Cáparra Roman City

Cáparra was an ancient Roman city located in present-day Cáceres, Spain. The city was walled and spanned around 15-16 hectares. In 74 AD, under Emperor Vespasian, Cáparra gained Latin municipal status. This promotion spurred its development, leading to Roman-style architecture. The city witnessed its golden age during the first century AD. Cáparra’s abandonment began in the Middle Ages. This trend worsened with the Muslim invasion. From the 12th century onward, records of the city became scarce. In the late 18th century, the town was nearly deserted. Excavations from the 1920s uncovered the temple of Jupiter and necropolises. Later archaeological work revealed the city’s layout and structures.  The public baths are another significant find, dating back to the Flavian period. 

Cáparra: Roman City in Lusitania

8. Archaeological Park of Segóbriga

Segóbriga was established as a Celtic settlement, likely originating as a castro, a fortified hilltop settlement, during the 2nd millennium BCE. Under Roman rule, particularly during the reign of Augustus, Segóbriga experienced economic growth and urban development. 

Segóbriga Archaeological Park

9. Cerro Del Molinete Archaeological Park

The Parque Arqueológico del Molinete is located in Cartagena, Spain, covering an area of approximately 26,000 square meters.

Cerro Del Molinete Archaeological Park

10. Valeria Roman City

Valeria, located in the province of Cuenca, Spain, was founded between 93 and 82 BCE during the Roman conquest of Iberian territories. The city was established on lands previously inhabited by Celtiberian and Olcade peoples, following their subjugation in 179 BCE. Valeria was named after its founder, the consul Cayo Valerio Flaco, and was part of a broader Roman strategy to create urban centers across the region.

Valeria: Roman City in Cuenca

11. Complutum Roman City

Complutum, located in present-day Alcalá de Henares, Spain, originated as a settlement of the Celtiberian Carpetani tribe during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE. The site was strategically positioned near the Henares River.

Complutum

12. Archaeological Park Carranque

Carranque is located in the Toledo province of Castile-La Mancha, Spain. The archaeological site is believed to be associated with the Villa of Maternus Cinigius, who was the uncle of Emperor Theodosius I. The villa and its associated structures date back to the late 4th century AD.

Carranque Archaeological Park

13. Pollentia Roman City

Pollentia, located in present-day Alcúdia, Mallorca, was founded by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Balearicus around 123 BCE. Initially established as a military camp, or castra, it served as a strategic base for Roman operations in the Balearic Islands.

Pollentia: A Roman City in Mallorca

14. Conjunto Arqueológico de Itálica

Itálica was founded in 206 BCE by Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus during the aftermath of the Second Punic War. Itálica was strategically located between the cities of Hispalis (Sevilla) and Ilipa (Alcalá del Río). Initially populated by wounded soldiers from Italy, the city was granted the status of a Latin colony. 

Itálica

15. Empúries Ruins of the Ancient City

Empúries, located on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia, Spain, was founded in 575 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea. Initially established on a small island at the mouth of the river Fluvià, the city was known as Ἐμπόριον (Emporion), meaning “trading place.”

Empúries

16. Conjunto Arqueológico de Carmona

The history of Carmona, located in the province of Seville, Spain, dates back nearly five thousand years, making it one of the oldest urban sites in Europe. The area has been continuously occupied since the Neolithic period, with significant developments occurring during the Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Roman eras.

Carmona Archaeological Site

17. Ategua Archaeological Site

Ategua is an archaeological site located approximately 6 kilometers from Santa Cruz and 32 kilometers from Córdoba, Spain. Evidence suggests human occupation from the Late Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages.

Ategua: An Archaeological Site in Spain

18. Baelo Claudia Ancient City

Baelo Claudia was established at the end of the 2nd century BCE on the northern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, approximately 22 kilometers from Tarifa, Spain. Initially a fishing village, it developed into a trading stop, particularly for trade with North Africa. The town’s prosperity was bolstered by its role in the production of garum, a fermented fish sauce highly valued in Roman cuisine.

Baelo Claudia: A Roman Town in Hispania

19. El Tolmo de Minateda

Tolmo de Minateda is an archaeological site located in Hellín, Albacete, Spain. Its strategic position at a crossroads between the southern Meseta Central and the southeastern Mediterranean coast facilitated continuous human habitation for over 3,000 years, beginning in the Bronze Age. 

Tolmo de Minateda: Archaeological Insights

20. Museo Arqueológico de Andelos / Archaeological Museum of Andelos

The Roman city of Andelos, located in Mendigorría, Navarra, was established during the Roman Empire, with its peak occurring in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The site was excavated between 1980 and 2000. The excavations revealed a well-planned urban layout, including streets, residential areas, and public buildings. 

Andelos: Roman City in Navarra

21. Poblat ibèric de l’Esquerda

L’Esquerda is an archaeological site located in Les Masies de Roda, Osona, Catalonia, with evidence of intermittent occupation from the 8th century BCE to the 14th century CE. The site is positioned on a meander of the Ter River, approximately 30 to 40 meters above the river level, providing excellent defensive characteristics and control over the surrounding territory.

L’Esquerda

22. Lépida Celsa

Lepida Celsa, located in modern Velilla de Ebro, Spain, was originally an Iberian settlement known as Kelse, established by the Ilergetes tribe. The site is strategically positioned along the River Ebro, serving as a vital communication route. Kelse was notable for minting its own currency from the mid-second century to the first half of the first century BCE, featuring images of winged victories and deities.

Lepida Celsa

23. Carteia Archaeological Site

Carteia is an archaeological site located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. Its origins trace back to the Phoenicians in the 7th century BCE. The site is situated within the Bay of Algeciras and was established by the Phoenicians at Cerro del Prado, approximately 2 km northwest of the current site. 

Carteia: Archaeological Site of Roman and Punic Heritage

24. Libisosa Archaeological Site

Libisosa, located on the Cerro del Castillo in Lezuza, Albacete, is an archaeological site that spans a timeline from the Late Bronze Age through the Medieval period. Initial evidence of human occupation dates back to the Late Bronze Age, with findings of hand-made ceramics and evidence of habitation from the 9th to 6th centuries BCE. 

Libisosa: Archaeological Insights into Roman Hispania

25. Julióbriga

Juliobriga, known in Latin as Iuliobriga, was established during the Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BCE) as an urban center in Roman Cantabria. It is located in present-day Retortillo, Spain. The city was named in honor of Emperor Augustus, incorporating the Celtic element ‘-briga’, which signifies a fortified place.

Juliobriga: The Roman City of Cantabria

26. Labitolosa

Labitolosa was a Roman city located on Cerro Calvario in La Puebla de Castro, Huesca, Spain. It was inhabited from the 1st century BCE to the early 3rd century CE.

Labitolosa: Roman City of the Pre-Pyrenees

27. Torreparedones Archaeological Site

Torreparedones, located between Baena and Castro del Río in Córdoba, Spain, is an archaeological site with a history spanning over 3,500 years.

Torreparedones

28. Cástulo

Cástulo, located in modern-day Linares, Spain, was a prominent city in the region of Oretania. Its history spans from the late 3rd millennium BCE to the 15th century CE, showcasing continuous occupation.

Cástulo: Archaeological Insights into an Iberoroman City

29. Uxama Argaela

Uxama Argaela, located on the Cerro del Castro near modern El Burgo de Osma in Soria, Spain, was originally a settlement of the Arévacos, a Celtic tribe. This city played a significant role during the Celtiberian Wars (153-133 BCE), actively participating in the defense of Numantia against Roman forces.

Uxama Argaela: A Roman City in Hispania

30. Acinipo (Roman Town, Archaeological Site)

Acinipo, also known as Acinippo, is an archaeological site located near Ronda in the province of Málaga, Spain. The site has been occupied since the Neolithic period, with evidence of habitation dating back to approximately 3000 BCE.

Acinipo: Roman Archaeological Site in Andalusia

31. Ciudad Romana de Cara

The archaeological site of Cara, located in Santacara, Navarra, dates from the 1st century BCE to the 4th century CE. It is believed to have been established during the Sertorian campaigns, with evidence of pre-Roman habitation.

Archaeological Site of Cara: Roman City in Navarra

32. Bilbilis

Bílbilis was a prominent city in the Iberian Peninsula, located on the hill of Bámbola between the Jalón and Ribota rivers, near modern-day Calatayud in Zaragoza. Initially a Celtiberian settlement, it was associated with the Lusones tribe, whose capital it served.

Bílbilis: Roman City of Hispania

33. Ercavica

Ercávica, located in present-day Cañaveruelas, Cuenca, Spain, was first mentioned in the context of the Roman conquest of Hispania during the campaign of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus in 179 BCE. According to the historian Livy, the city, described as a powerful and noble Celtiberian settlement, surrendered to the Romans. Although this capitulation was not entirely genuine, as hostilities resumed once Roman forces withdrew.

Ercávica: Roman City in Cuenca

34. Roman Ruins of Sisapo

Sisapo, located in the modern-day village of La Bienvenida in Ciudad Real, Spain, is identified as a Roman municipium that thrived primarily due to its rich mineral resources, particularly cinabrio (mercury sulfide). The origins of Sisapo trace back to the late 8th century BCE, during the Tartessian period, when it served as a settlement characterized by local ceramic production and potential Phoenician influence. The archaeological evidence suggests that the site was chosen for its proximity to mineral deposits and trade routes.

Sisapo: The Roman Mining Capital of Hispania

35. Lancia Ancient Roman City

Lancia, located in the modern municipality of Villasabariego in León, Spain, was a city of the Astures and later a Roman settlement in the province of Tarraconensis. The site is situated on a plateau between the Porma and Esla rivers, an area known for its agricultural fertility.

Lancia: Ancient Roman City in León, Spain