Originally published 26 August 2024

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team unless otherwise stated.

Over 800 years of history, the Romans occupied all Southern Europe, Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East. So no wonder that you can find magnificent Roman ruins in many countries of the area, including of course Spain. Here is our guide to where to find the most interesting and beautiful remains of that era.

A bit of history

colourful-map-hispania — Map of Hispania around 125 AD (Map courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

The Roman legions arrived in the Iberian peninsula in 218 BC, and it took them 200 years to fully conquer it, due to the strong resistance from the local population (mainly Iberians and Celts). The conquered Iberian peninsula was named “Hispania”. There are many theories about the origin of that name, but the most accepted is from a Punic word “sapan”, meaning “land of rabbits”.

The peninsula was divided into three provinces: Tarraconensins, with the capital in Tarraco (now Tarragona), Lusitania, with the capital in Augusta Emerita (now Mérida), and Baetica, with thecapital in Corduba (now Córdoba). The Tarraconensis province was later divided into three smaller provinces: Tarraconensins, Cartaginensis, with the capital in Cartago Nova (now Cartagena) and Gallaecia, with capital in Brigantium (now A Coruña).

Like all Roman colonies, Hispania had a very structured territorial government, with laws and regulations for almost everything. The Roman influence can still be appreciated not only in the ruins, but in many customs and elements of agriculture, popular architecture and landscapes.

In the 5th century AD, different Germanic groups (mainly Visigoths, Alans, Suebi and Vandals) occupied the peninsula, ending the Roman era. But, in almost 700 years, the Romans had time to build and leave a huge heritage that we can still appreciate today. In fact, Spain’s Roman ruins are some of its favorite attractions amongst travelers.

The cities in Spain with the best Roman heritage

Of course the main Roman heritage can be found in the province capitals already mentioned. But it can also be appreciated in smaller cities and infrastructures. For instance you can find Roman bridges in many cities that weren’t too important during the empire.

Many of these Roman monuments and ruins are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Segovia

If you ask anybody to name a Roman monument in Spain, chances are everybody will say “the aqueduct in Segovia”… and rightfully so. It’s an impressive structure built in the 1st century AD, under the successive rules of Emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan.

The section we can see today in the city is more than 700 meters long, comprising of 167 arches. But it was the final part of a water transportation system of more than 17 km (11 miles), briging the water from the nearby mountains, in the area where the La Granja Palace sits today. It’s 30 meters in its tallest part and the whole structure is supported just by gravity, as there is no mortar or cement holding the granite blocks toghether.

A small part of it was detroyed during the Muslim rule of the city, but it was reconstructed in the 15th century. The aqueduct transported water into the city until the 1970’s and there was car traffic through the arches until 1992. Today, the whole area is pedestrian only, to better protect and admire the monument. From 1985 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Getting to Segovia is easy, and it is one of the top day trips from Madrid!

Mérida

merida-roman-theater-arches-dusk — The impressive Roman Theater in Mérida

Augusta Emerita, now Mérida, was the capital of the Lusitania province. It was founded in 25 BC, and became one of the largest and most important cities in Hispania. Curiously, Mérida is now the capital of the Extremadura region.

You can visit several well preserved Roman monuments. The most famous is the theater, still used nowadays for plays, musicals and concerts, especially during the yearly Festival de Mérida, held every July. A big part of the scene background has been preserved until today, a rare case in Europe. The seating area has been partially rebuilt, and you can appreciate the amazing acoustics of the place.

Next to the theater you can visit the amphitheater, a bit more ruined, but impressive nevertheless for its size. To complete the group, a beautiful Roman Art Museum, designed by world famous Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, was opened in 1986. It’s a must visit not only for the great collection, but for the beautiful modern architecture, inspired by Roman concepts.

Other Roman monuments in the city include two aqueducts, a circus, and the temple of Diana. You can buy a single ticket that includes all the monuments in the city, or individual tickets for every monument.

The Roman monuments of Mérida were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1993.

Tarragona

In Roman times, Tarraco (now Tarragona, south of the city of Barcelona) was the main port of the colony. As in Split (Croatia) or Rome, the Roman ruins have been integrated into the city’s fabric.

For instance, the former circus ruins appear in the space between modern buildings, with one section more open for visiting. A very interesting structure not just for its open air seating, but for the underground corridors and halls.

The amphiteater is better preserved with almost the full oval in view. To make it more special, it’s located righ by the Mediterranean, with beautiful sea views. There is also a beautiful walk around the city center, where you can admire some remaining sections of the Roman walls.

There is a small history museum where you can see some artifacts, and a cool model of the city in the Roman times.

Outside of the city you can visit the Les Ferreres aqueduct, a very impressive structure. Sadly, it’s almost impossible to access it without a car.

All these monuments are protected by UNESCO since 2000. And Tarragona makes a great day trip from Barcelona.

Lugo

Speaking of Roman city walls, Lugo, in Galicia, has the most complete and best preserved in the entire world! The old city is completely surrounded by them.

The numbers are impressive: a total length of more than 2 km, with a width of more than 4 meters and a height between 8 and 10 meters. It has 85 towers, 46 of them fully preserved. And there is an open (and free) promenade on top, so you can walk the complete walls!

There are other interesting Roman remains in Lugo (Lucus in Roman times), including the baths, a couple of houses with beautiful mosaics (Casa de los mosaicos and Domus Mitrea), and a bridge built in the 1st century AD.

Lugo made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

A Coruña

Speaking of Galicia, we move on to A Coruña, the region’s second largest city. In Roman times it was the city of Brigantium. Although it was an important city then, unfortunately little remains from those times.

But among those little remains, one stands out for its size and historical importance: Torre de Hércules. It’s the only Roman lighthouse still working, making it also the oldest functional lighthouse in the world.

Built in the 1st century AD, the original Roman structure is covered today by the Neoclassical façades added in the 18th century. But when you visit it inside, you can appreciate the robust original walls and arches from the Roman times. To visit it, make sure you buy your tickets online, or at the visitor’s center located in the parking lot. There is no box office in the tower itself, and it’s a long road to go back.

The lighthouse is located on a peninsula north of the city center, so the views from the top of the tower are amazing too. It was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2009.

Cádiz

roman-theatre-tunnel-cadiz — One of the tunnels under Cádiz Roman theater.

Many historians consider Cádiz the oldest city of the Western world. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 13th century BC, it has seen many different civilizations during its 3,300 years of history. One of those civilizations was of course the Romans, that took the city from the Carthaginians in 206 BC., naming it Gades.

The most important Roman remain in the city is the theater (Teatro Romano de Cádiz), located very close to the cathedral. It’s not as spectacular as the ones you may find in Mérida or Cartagena, but it’s very well preserved, especially the steps and the circulation tunnels.

Entrance is free, and the access is through a small (and hidden in the maze of streets around it) museum.

Bolonia

Imagine admiring Roman ruins as you swim in one of Spain’s most beautiful beaches. You can do that in Bolonia, on the beautiful Costa de la Luz, also in Cádiz province.

Baelo Claudia (the Roman name of the city) was founded in the 2nd century BC. It was an important center of Garum production. (Garum was a fish sauce very popular in all the Roman empire). The city was destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd century AD, and fell into oblivion until the 19th century, when it started to be unveiled and preserved.

The remains are quite interesting, as you can see the foundations of the whole city, including the Forum, the theater, and even an aqueduct. Sadly it’s very difficult to access Bolonia with public transportation, as there is only one daily bus from Tarifa. But if you have your own car, it’s a short drive from Tarifa and a doable day trip from Cádiz.

(For more tips about getting around Spain, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide!)

Málaga

roman-theatre-alcazaba-malaga-daytime — The Roman theater in Málaga

Present day Málaga was also an important city during Roman times. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC with the name of Malaka. The city was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BC, slightly changing its name to Malaca.

The city was settled at the feet of the Gibralfaro mountain. But little remains from those times, except for the beautiful Roman theater. You can appreciate the full “cavea” or seating section, and walk among the remains of the stage. All the time enjoying the view of the beautiful Alcazaba (Islamic fortress).

Even if it’s right in the city center, few people enter it, they just admire it from the outside. But you should take some time to enter it. It’s a very interesting visit, and free!

Itálica

roman-ruins-italica — Impressive ruins in Itálica

In a suburb of present day Seville, Itálica was the first large city founded by the Romans in Hispania, in the year 206 BC. it was a small but important city, as it controlled the navigation on the Guadalquivir river. The city felt in decay in the 3rd century AD, when the river changed its course.

During centuries it was abandoned, and its walls were destroyed to use the stones in other constructions. By the late 19th century it started to be excavated and preserved, and by 1912 it was declared a National Monument.

The ruins are in excellent shape, and you can appreciate many beautiful buildings, such as the theater and the amphitheater, the baths, the aqueduct, and many houses with beautiful mosaics.

The amphitheater was the third largest in the Roman Empire, and it’s the most famous place in the archeological park, mostly because it was used as a location for the TV show “Game of Thrones”, as Dragonpit.

Getting to Itálica is complicated without a car. There is a public bus (line 170a) from Seville’s Plaza de Armas that takes about an hour. The drive is only about 20 minutes, so you can consider taking a taxi too. There are also bike tours that go to Itálica.

Segóbriga

roman-pillars-statue-segobriga — Segóbriga, in Cuenca province, is a really off the beaten path Roman city.

With Roman ruins, there is also “off the beaten path”. Located in a remote location in the province of Cuenca in Castilla La-Mancha. It is very difficult to access without a car. So if you’re on a road trip of the region, or driving from Madrid to Valencia, it’s a perfect stop.

It was discovered in the late 19th century, so little is known of this city, but the remains are quite impressive, with a beautiful amphitheater, well preserved baths and many others.

It’s still an active archeological site, that makes the visit even more interesting.

Alcalá de Henares

mosaic-human-figures-complutum-alcala-de-henares — Some of the great Roman mosaics from Complutum, in Alcalá de Henares.

You can even find Roman city ruins at merely 20 km from Madrid. The city of Complutum, located near Alcalá de Henares, was founded in the 1st century BC, and grew in importance until the fall of the Empire in the 5th century AD. It remained destroyed and unprotected until the 1980s, when excavations and conservation started.

The site is not big, but very interesting. You can see the remains of the forum and some houses. The most important is the House of the Griffins, with many well preserved frescoes of Pompeian style.

To get there is not complicated. You can take the “Cercanías” train bound to Alcalá de Henares and Guadalajara, and get off at La Garena station. From there, it is a 20 minute walk to the site. Also, you can see some magnificent mosaics from the site displayed at Alcalá de Henares’ wonderful Archaeology Museum.

Cartagena

roman-amphitheater-catragena-spain — The impressive Roman theater of Cartagena is right in the middle of the city. Photo courtesy of Pexels

The Roman theater in Cartagena (Murcia province) is one of the most important in Spain. The name Cartagena comes from Cartago Nova, a Roman colony established there in the 3rd century BC.

It was a big theater, with a capacity for 6,000 spectators, but it fell in disuse in the 3rd century AD, when it was transformed into a market. In the 13th century, the city’s cathedral was built in one side of the theater, and the rest remained covered until 1988, when some remains were unvelied in a construction site. The recovery and restoration lasted until 2003, since when it can be visited and appreciated in its (almost) full glory.

Like in Mérida, there is a nearby museum designed by the same architect, Rafael Moneo, with a fine collection of Roman sculptures.

Las Médulas

large-mountains-las-medulas-daytime — The unique landscape of Las Médulas

This is a unique Roman site not only in Spain, but in Europe. It’s unique because you won’t find a single architectural element or sculpture. Just mountains.

Located in El Bierzo region, close to the border between Castilla y León and Galicia, it was the most important gold mine in the whole Roman Empire. The characteristic landscape was caused by a particular mining technique: “ruina montium”, or wrecking of the mountain. The mountains were washed by large amounts of water arriving to the site through seven aqueducts. The water carried the gold down from the mountains, and it was collected by the miners. It was a dangerous method, that caused the death of many of them.

This fascinating site started to be protected in the 1980s, and in 1997 became a UNESCO World’s Heritage site.

Can we help you with your trip around Roman Spain?

As you can see, the Roman heritage in Spain is one of the largest and richest in the world, and we are here to help you create your ultimate “Hispania” Spain travel itinerary.

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Hispania, the best Roman monuments in Spain