Clio Ancient Art & Antiquities

Roman antiquities, Egyptian antiquities, Greek antiquities, Biblical antiquities, ancient glass, ancient jewelry, ancient oil lamps, Egyptian shabti

Welcome to Clio Ancient Art’s Travelogues Page, highlighting places of archaeological or art historical interest visited by Chris M. Maupin in recent years. These should be of interest to collectors of antiquities and ancient art. Our antiquities Travelogues pages are updated every couple of months with new text and images. Your comments are most welcome. Enjoy. You may also view our archived Travelogues section by clicking here.

Roman Spain, ancient Barcelona, Spain antiquities

The Spanish city of Barcelona (Barcino to the Romans) today has a well-earned reputation as a “party town”. Often full of tourists from other parts of Europe and the Americas, boasting a vibrant night life, and home to immigrants from North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, Barcelona is today as cosmopolitan as any city in Western Europe. As a port city, famed in Roman times for its major exports of Spanish wine and fish sauce (garum), it would have been cosmopolitan then, as well.

Today’s visitor needn’t look far beyond the bars, bistros, nightclubs and hotels of the famed La Rambla to find substantial traces of the City’s ancient past. Fewer than 200 meters east of La Rambla, in Vila de Madrid Square, is evidence of the Roman city’s sepulchral way. As with all Roman cities, Barcino’s cemeteries were laid out along major roads in and out of the city, beyond the walls, and some of these are now visible just north of the roughly oval shaped Roman city, which corresponds roughly to today’s old city quarter, referred to by the locals as “el Gotic”.

During demolition to remove a 16th Century convent and church damaged during the Spanish Civil War, a section of the sepulchral way was discovered. It contained 70 tombs of the 2nd and 3rd Centuries AD in a variety of styles and materials. Many of these may be viewed today either from the plaza directly above or, during certain open hours, up close in their semi-subterranean setting. The tombstones include clear interpretive displays and translations of the funerary inscriptions.

Further impressive evidence of the City’s Roman past may be found in the large public square, Placa Nova, that fronts the impressive 14th Century and later Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. Partly incorporated today into the complex of Diocesan buildings around the square are parts of the Roman city’s northern gateway, probably dating to the 4th Century AD. Just a few meters away are remains of arched aqueducts that brought water into the city at this point.

The Museu Arqueologic, located in the scenic Parc de Montjuic overlooking the City and its port, is well worth a visit. It includes finds from both the City itself and from outlying areas in Ampurias, ranging in date from prehistoric to Visigothic.

After a busy day touring Barcelona’s past, this writer highly recommends transitioning back into the present with a superb dinner at Attic Restaurant, located upstairs at Les Rambles 120, or an early evening visit to the amazing La Boqueria public market for a build-it-yourself meal. There are several convenient wine bars immediately next door to the market. Either way, this may be followed by a leisurely night stroll down La Rambla.