Via Sepulcral Romana
Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, Barcelona, Catalonia, 08002
Also known as MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana, the Via Sepulcral Romana is an ancient Roman burial ground that dates back to the days when Barcelona was Barcino. Around 70 tombs, uncovered during building work in the 1940s, have been left in the open air and form a sunken garden in the center of a square.
The basics
Dating from the first to the third centuries, the tombs in the garden come in a range of colors and shapes like urns and stelae. During Roman times, funerals were outlawed within Barcino’s walls, so the tombs would have lined the road leading out of the city. At this site, there’s an interpretation center that displays information on ancient Roman burial customs as well as some excavated pottery, including an eerie child’s burial amphora. The Via Sepulcral Romana is easy to visit independently and is also an occasional stop on Gothic Quarter walking tours.
Things to know before you go
- History buffs interested in learning more about Barcino will appreciate the Via Sepulcral Romana.
- There’s a walkway from which you can look at the tombs for free. To see the rest of the site, there’s a small fee for visiting.
- The Via Sepulcral Romana and the interpretation center are small; most travelers will be done within 20 minutes.
- Signage in the interpretation center is only in Spanish and Catalan; non-fluent speakers might wish to visit with a guide.
- Children under 16 and Barcelona Card holders enjoy free entry to the site.
How to get there
In the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), just a block from Las Ramblas, the Plaça de la Vila de Madrid houses the Via Sepulcral Romana. It’s less than a 5-minute walk from Catalunya Square (Plaça de Catalunya) and the best Metro station is Catalunya (Line 1 and Line 3).
When to get there
The Via Sepulcral Romana is rarely busy, despite its odd opening hours. The interpretation center and site are only open on Tuesdays around lunchtime and on Sundays. It’s closed on December 25, January 1, May 1, and June 24. On days when the site isn’t open, you can admire the tombs from the surrounding walkway.
Discovering Roman Barcelona
The Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA) is a great place to start your journey back in time. On its lowest levels, you can explore the actual ruins of Roman Barcelona. Elsewhere, parts of the city walls are on show in the Gothic Quarter, notably on Plaça Nova. While only a few columns remain of the Temple of Augustus (Temple d’August), it’s extremely photogenic.
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