Exploring Roman Spain - Living in the Costa Blanca

Spain is a land of diverse influences from its past and we can see this clearly when living in the Costa Blanca. The festivals often depict the heritage of this beautiful country and it can also be seen clearly in the buildings, wine, agriculture and cuisine. The most obvious influence that we know well in the Costa Blanca are the Medievil feuds between the Moors and Christians in their fights to dominate and control the Penisular. However, prior to this the Romans occupied this Mediterrean Coast.

Lucentum: the Birth of Alicante

The Costa Blanca capital city begun life as a Roman city called Lucentum meaning city of light because of the brilliant sunshine that illuminates the cities location on the Mediterranean Sea. It was an important trading post as well as a military outpost and visitors today and exlpore the well-presevered ruins of the place where Alicante begun its life. You will be able to explore the city walls, a Roman villa and a necropolis and enjoy the museum in Alicante which houses interesting Roman items that give understanding to how people lived in the city at that time.

Dianium: Denia’s Roman roots

Those living in Denia have some of Spain’s Roman history on their doorstep with the flourishing city of Dianium first founded in the 1st century BC. Remains can be found within the walls of Denia Castle with its wonderful views of the town below and the coastline. The Castle also houses an archaeological museum and the remains of a Roman villa.

Roman Costa Blanca

The Roman Empire also left its mark on the smaller towns and villages of the Costa Blanca with Roman roads, aqueducts and other evidence of infrastructure that can be seen in the region. Altea’s whitewashed houses and narrow cobble streets have Roman origins and in Calpe we the Queen’s Baths which are architectural remians in the sea where people still enjoy bathing. Similar baths can also be found in El Campello and Jávea. It is believed that these rock formations that provide the bathing areas started life as fish farms where Romans could salt fish used to make a sauce known as Garum 2000 years ago. An additional part of the Calpe site is a small Muntanyeta Thermal Complex located on top of break water on the coast these old thermal baths contained the three step entrance to a frigidarium as well as a caldarium and tepidarim (cold, hot and tepid wather rooms) which had several ovens to maintin the water temperature. Finally there is evidence from the size of the baths of the size of the predominant villa and also remains of Calpe’s Roman village (Vicus Romanus) can be seen.

Tarragona

Further reminders of the Mediterranean coast of Spain’s Roman occupation can be found in this city which is located between Valencia and Barcelona. Known as Tarraco during this era it became one of the main bases for the Hispanic Roman Empire and was made up of two areas linked together with the military zone in the upper part of the city and the civil and residential areas in the lower part. In this fascinating town you can see some really well preserved buildings including the Roman Circus, Forum and aqueduct as well as a spectacular amphitheatre perched on a hill overlooking the sea. 

Cartegena

South of Alicante we enter Murcia where the port city of Cartegena is located, originally founded by the Cathaginians in the 3rd century BC the Romans conquered this important town in 209 BC and made it an important naval and administrative base. Remains of their presence include one of the most well preserved Roman theatres in Spain and from here you can enjoy some amazing views of the city. The theatre is still used to host cultural events and performances. In the heart of the Roman city are the remnants of the forum’s columns and Roman walls still surround the city which contains evidence of the luxurious lifestyle with Roman baths with a heating system. The museum has an immense collection of Roman mosaics, sculptures and pottery. Each year the city celebrates a reenactment of the Roman conquest of Cartagena with troops landing on the beaches, the wedding of Hannial and Himilce and a Roman Circus with gladiators and wild animals culminating in a grand parade of the troops and legions.

Conclusion

There are many more Roman sites throughout Spain but, along the Mediterranean coast we are blessed with some excellen reminder of who was living in the Costa Blanca before us.