Iruña-Veleia, Archaeological site in Iruña de Oca, Spain.
Iruña-Veleia is a Roman city near Vitoria-Gasteiz whose remains spread across eleven hectares and are enclosed by defensive walls. The excavations reveal streets, residential buildings, and public structures that reflect daily life in this ancient center.
The settlement began in the Late Bronze Age during the 8th century BC but became a thriving center under Roman rule with thousands of residents. It developed into an important hub in regional networks before eventually declining.
The site displays Roman homes built in the domus style, showing how Roman life took root in this region. Visitors can see in the ruins how people lived and how their daily habits changed through Roman influence.
Visitors should plan ahead since access to the site is organized and guided tours provide helpful information about the findings. It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, as the excavations are spread over a wide area and require significant walking.
The site lay strategically along an important Roman trade route that connected coastal ports with inland territories and allowed goods from across the empire to pass through. This location made it an economic crossroads that maintained connections across great distances.
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