Just 22 km from Tarifa are the ruins of the town of Baelo Claudia. It is a remnant of Roman rule in the Iberian Peninsula. Its history dates back to the 2nd century BC. At that time, maritime trade with Africa was developing in the area of present-day Andalusia.
Thrive and decline
It was an important centre for trade with the Tangier. Salt, fish were traded and garum, a salty fish sauce made from fermented fish and often used in Roman cuisine, was produced. The city still gained in importance in the first century AD, during the reign of Emperor Claudius. However, already in the following century it was destroyed by a huge tsunami. After the invasions of the Germanic tribes and the Moors, who started to take over lands all over the Iberian Peninsula, it did not return to its glory. By the 6th century, it was completely deserted.
Forum ruins and temple of an Egyptian goddess
The ruins are beautifully situated, on the seafront. The plan of the town is a typical example of Roman buildings in the area. It was surrounded by walls, with a gate leading into it. The foundations of the forum, the court, the temple of Juno, Minerva and the Egyptian goddess Isis have been preserved to this day. Why an Egyptian goddess of fertility and motherhood, protector of children and sailors in the Roman pantheon? From the time of Roman Egyptomania, a fascination with Egyptian culture. The temple of Isis stood on the very Fields of Mars in Rome! Also preserved are the ruins of private houses and shops, a garum factory, baths and a monumental theatre and one of the three aqueducts.
Romans in Andalusia
Baleo Claudia is not the only Roman remains in Andalusia. In Marbella, for example, there are beautiful baths from the time of the Roman Empire, or the remains of the Rio Verde houses, known for their mosaics, which date back to the 2nd century. One of the most interesting reminders of the Empire are the fragments of the Puente Romano bridge, built in the 1st century AD. It was once part of the Via Augusta – the road from Rome to Cadiz. Today, the Puente Romano can be seen inside the luxurious Puente Romano Hotelinto whose architecture it has been incorporated. New relics from Roman times are still being discovered. In 2022, archaeologists unearthed the remains of an artisan’s workshop from the time of the Empire in Marbella.
Source: www.inoutviajes.com
The best place under the sun
Andalusia has been inhabited since the earliest times, as far back as prehistoric times – even today it is an excellent region to live in. This is due to the mild winters, the many days of sunshine a year, the specific microclimate of the region’s most important resort, Marbella, the healthy diet and the peaceful lifestyle.
Life on the Costa del Sol flows more peacefully, with a gentle rhythm. Find a luxury home or flat for yourself and fall in love with Spain!
