Juliobriga Archaeological Site

Address: Near Retortillo / Campoo de Enmedio, Cantabria, Spain

Admission: Free (site is open-air ruins).

Juliobriga is the site of an ancient Roman town in Cantabria, Spain that served as an important urban centre in the region during Roman times. It was established during Rome’s consolidation of northern Iberia.

Remains at the site include foundations and archaeological traces of public buildings, streets and baths that illustrate the layout of a Roman municipal centre. The visible ruins and interpretive material give insight into urban life in Roman Cantabria.

Founded in the period of Roman expansion into Cantabria in the late first centuries BC and AD, the settlement functioned as a local administrative and economic hub during Roman rule. Archaeological investigation during the 20th and 21st centuries has documented its urban features.

Located inland in Cantabria, the ruins sit within the northern Iberian landscape and are accessible from regional roads in the province.

• Roman foundation: Founded during the Roman expansion into northern Iberia, the site was one of the principal Roman towns in the Cantabrian region.

What to See#

• Archaeological remains: Excavations have revealed the remains of public buildings, street layouts and thermal baths typical of a Roman urban centre, indicating an organized town plan.

The site is best reached by car from Reinosa in Cantabria. Local roads connect the small villages in the Campoo valley; public transport is limited and a car makes the most sense. The ruins are a short walk from the nearest parking area.

• Hire a local guide in the nearby town of Reinosa or Colombres to hear the Roman and medieval layers of the site - guides can point out subtle masonry repairs that amateurs miss.
• Bring a copy of a site plan (available at nearby municipal tourist offices) to understand the street grid and remaining foundations.
• Visit with a light that picks out mortar lines; many of the surviving walls are low and benefits from close inspection.