MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana is an open-air archaeological site in Plaça de la Vila de Madrid, in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella. Its stone tombs line a Roman funerary road dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD, when burials took place outside Barcino’s walls. The remains sit below today’s street level, giving you a clear view of ancient burial practices amid the modern city. The site is small, so a little background reading can help put the tombs in context.
A burial road outside Barcino
The necropolis dates from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. At that time, burials were required outside the walls of Barcino, the Roman city that preceded Barcelona. The tombs here line a funerary road, preserving a glimpse of how the city’s dead were laid to rest beyond its boundary.
Reading the remains
The stone tombs are set below modern street level in Plaça de la Vila de Madrid. From the surrounding street, you can look down over the archaeological site. The remains include sarcophagi associated with local families. An indoor exhibition provides context when it is open, though some historical text may not be available in English. A short look at the site’s history beforehand can make the remains easier to understand.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana?
It is in Plaça de la Vila de Madrid in Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella.
How old is the Roman necropolis?
It dates from the 1st to 3rd centuries AD.
Can you see the site without entering?
Yes. The archaeological remains can be viewed from above at street level.
