Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta

Below Plaza de la Seo, the Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta preserves part of Zaragoza’s Roman forum, the civic centre of ancient Caesaraugusta. The remains include a marketplace, shop walls, sewers and water channels, with layers from the eras of Augustus and Tiberius. Walk among the excavated structures, then watch the short film, which tells the city’s story with English subtitles. The museum gives a close-up view of Roman Zaragoza, though some displays have limited English-language explanations.

A forum below the modern square

The museum sits below the pavement of Plaza de la Seo. Its excavated remains belong to the Roman forum, the public centre of Caesaraugusta, the city that occupied the site of Zaragoza. The ruins lie several feet below today’s ground level.

The exposed structures include parts of a marketplace, shop walls and an extensive drainage system. Some remains date to the period when the city was founded under Augustus; others belong to the time of Emperor Tiberius. Together, they give a sense of how the forum and its infrastructure served the ancient city.

Understanding the remains

The archaeological remains can be difficult to read on their own, so allow time for the museum’s audiovisual presentation. A short film explains the story of the city from the river’s point of view and includes English subtitles. Reconstructed models and the film help put the excavated structures in context.

The exhibition includes Roman objects as well as the remains themselves. English-language explanations are not available throughout, so the film is a useful way to add context to your walk through the site. The museum is one of four related Caesaraugusta museums covered by a combined ticket; check holiday schedules if you plan to visit several in one day.