Hispania was the home of a bunch of Roman emperors and a treasure trove of resources, from gold to garum (that funky fermented sauce). Here are some must-see spots in Roman Spain.
After the Second Punic War wrapped up in the late 3rd century BCE, Iberia started getting all Romanized. Roads popped up everywhere, and port cities became hubs for all sorts of goods, including shiny metals and tasty Roman treats like garum. Fast forward two thousand years, and you can still find Roman ruins scattered across the country. From the stunning Aqueduct of Segovia to the impressive Roman Theatre in Mérida, let’s check out some of the highlights!
1. The Walls of Lugo
Check out the Roman Walls of Lugo! Located in Galicia, which is in the far northwest of Spain, Lugo was a tough nut to crack back in the day. Julius Caesar campaigned against the local Callaeci tribe as governor around 62 BCE. He went back to Rome claiming he had conquered the whole peninsula, but the battles in northern Spain dragged on for another two decades. Even now, Galicia has a unique Celtic vibe, similar to places like Brittany and Ireland.
By the 3rd century CE, Lucus Augusti was an important administrative hub in a gold mining area. Even long after Hispania was conquered, there were still threats from barbarian tribes and local leaders. This danger was serious enough that they built nearly 7,000 feet of imposing walls made from slate and granite around the city. Today, these walls are the best-preserved example of military architecture from the old Western Roman Empire.
The walls soar up to 50 feet high and have over 80 towers, all still standing strong. They were designed with precision to eliminate any blind spots. However, some mysteries linger about this structure. For instance, why was a key residential area left outside the walls? Plus, by the 3rd century, a large section inside the walls had turned into empty land.
The Porta Miñá, located on the west side, is the most original of the five gates. It still shows off details from 1,750 years ago, like its round arches and barrel vault. The passageway is pretty narrow—just enough for two people to squeeze through—and it feels even tighter with the two towers sticking out on either side.
There are four staircases and two ramps that take you up to the battlements. From up there, you can check out a city that has expanded beyond the walls since the 19th century.
2. Tarragona
Tarragona, a city in Catalonia that tumbles down to the Mediterranean, is rich with Roman history. The old town’s homes are actually built into the ruins of ancient Roman structures that are over 2,000 years old. You can often find spolia, which are repurposed building stones featuring Roman inscriptions, scattered around—whether on the streets, inside shops, or even in private homes.
Tarragona started gaining significance around the 3rd century BCE. By the late 1st century BCE, when Emperor Augustus visited, it was already the capital of Tarraconensis, a province that covered most of the Iberian Peninsula. Later, Emperor Galba spent eight years here as governor before his brief time as emperor.
One of Tarragona’s main attractions is its amphitheater from the 2nd century CE, perched on cliffs with stunning views of the Mediterranean from its terraces. Just up the hill is the Provincial Forum, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in 73 CE, which used to be the cultural and administrative hub of Tarraco and now occupies a large part of the medieval old town.
You can also find remnants of the circus that once held 30,000 spectators, connected by a cool barrel-vaulted passageway to the Praetorium—a tower that marked one corner of the grand forum. This spot later became a palace for the Medieval Crown of Aragon.
The old town is mostly enclosed by walls, with the lower parts dating back to the 3rd century BCE. If you’re into Roman history, you’ll love the National Archaeological Museum in Tarragona, which showcases a ton of Roman artifacts. Plus, you can take short trips to see a walkable Roman aqueduct, a quarry, and a well-preserved Roman villa featuring an amazing early Christian dome fresco.
3. Mérida
The Roman Theatre of Mérida is a big deal in Spain, especially in the modern region of Extremadura. Back in 25 BCE, Augustus founded the city of Augusta Emerita as a retirement spot for veterans who had fought hard against the Celtic Cantabri people. This helped bring the whole area under Roman control.
Today, Mérida is packed with ancient monuments and is one of the top archaeological sites in the country. The theater here is a standout—it’s one of the best Roman structures outside of Italy.
After the Roman Empire became Christian in the 4th century CE, theater performances were seen as immoral, so this place got buried over time. Eventually, only parts of the upper tiers were visible.
One of the coolest features is the scaenae frons, which is the decorative backdrop at the back of the stage. It’s really detailed, standing over 50 feet tall with fancy friezes and Corinthian columns.
The amphitheater nearby fell into disuse around the same time, and its upper levels were taken apart for stone. But the lower stands stayed intact until they were dug up in the early 1900s.
During the excavation, some amazing stuff was found, like a large piece of a fresco showing a guy battling a lioness, which you can check out at the National Museum of Roman Art in Mérida.
Mérida is also known for its impressive ancient infrastructure. The bridge over the Guadiana River was one of the first projects in Augusta Emerita. While it’s been modified over the years, some of the original arches have stood strong for 2,000 years.
Another cool structure is the Acueducto de los Milagros, which has a section that’s nearly 2,800 feet long and looks a lot like a 19th-century railroad viaduct with its brick arches and polished stone.
4. Tower of Hercules
The Tower of Hercules, located in A Coruña (formerly known as Brigantium), is a historic lighthouse that dates back to the 1st century CE. Back in the day, precious metals like gold from Galicia were shipped out through this port, which was one of the reasons Julius Caesar showed up in the early 60s BCE.
When the Romans took over northern Spain, they set up a bunch of coastal towns. By the 1st century CE, there were several ports along the Bay of Biscay, making it easier to navigate the Atlantic Route. This led to a complex trade network connecting the Roman Mediterranean all the way to London and the Rhine River. The impressive Tower of Hercules stands as a testament to the maritime trade in Roman Galicia.
Situated on a dramatic peninsula at the edge of the Bay of Biscay, the Tower of Hercules was thought by the Romans to be near the end of the world, or Finisterra. Fast forward about 2,000 years, and this lighthouse is still operational, making it the oldest working lighthouse globally and the only one from Roman times that’s still in use. Despite its age, it’s also the third tallest lighthouse in Spain, standing at 180 feet.
Although it might have lost its original purpose as a navigation aid during the Middle Ages when it became a fortress, the structure we see today is the result of a Neoclassical restoration done in the late 18th century.
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5. The Aqueduct of Segovia
The Aqueduct of Segovia is one of the most impressive Roman structures in Spain, delivering water to the city from the 2nd century CE all the way to the 19th century.
While the iconic image of the aqueduct is its grand finale, it’s actually part of a much longer system that spans over ten miles. This system brought water from a mountain spring through various channels, including a cistern, a tower, and a meticulously designed 2,400-foot channel with a gentle one percent slope. This section fed water into the Postigo, which is where Segovia’s old walled city and the Medieval fortress, Alcázar, are located.
The rocky landscape around the city makes the aqueduct’s bridge even more striking. From the Postigo, it crosses Plaza del Azoguejo, the former market square, reaching nearly 100 feet high.
As it winds through Segovia, the aqueduct features about 170 arches arranged on two levels. Its beauty lies in its surprising narrowness and impressive height, casting long shadows over the area at dawn and dusk.
The main structure stretches over 2,600 feet and is made up of around 25,000 granite blocks sourced from the nearby Sierra de Guadarrama, shaped like bricks and held together without any mortar.
7. Italica
Just outside Seville lies Italica, a city that thrived for about 400 years until the Guadalquivir River got clogged up, leading to its abandonment. Since Italica’s ruins were never built over, they’re in pretty good shape, especially the mosaics.
Italica dates back to the late 3rd century BCE, around the end of the Second Punic War (218-201 BCE), which had some action in Iberia. The city was established as a colony for veterans from the Italian peninsula. While it was smaller than Hispalis (now Seville), Italica held sway over its neighbor thanks to its notable origins and prime location along the river.
One of the prominent families in Italica was the gens Ulpia, known for producing several consuls and emperors, including Trajan and Hadrian, both born there.
Exploring Italica is a treat, especially the lower levels of fancy homes belonging to the city’s elite. These houses show off their owners’ status with spacious living areas, great locations, and high-quality finishes. But the real luxury comes from the stunning mosaics that were hidden away for over 1,600 years.
The mosaics even give the houses their names. For instance, the House of the Planetarium features a mosaic depicting planetary gods arranged in a circle to represent the days of the week, starting with the Moon for Monday and ending with the Sun for Sunday. Venus sits at the center, symbolizing Friday (diēs Veneris).
From Roman baths to a grand theater, the folks of Italica enjoyed amenities that matched the city’s impressive reputation. The amphitheater, built during Hadrian’s rule in the 2nd century CE, was one of the largest in ancient Rome, holding up to 35,000 people—way more than the actual population, highlighting Italica’s significance. You can see tunnels leading through the stands of the Ima Cavea, the lowest tier reserved for the elite, along with the underground service area that was once hidden under wooden floors.
