Baetulo, Roman archaeological site in Badalona, Spain.
Baetulo is a Roman archaeological site in present-day Badalona, preserving remains of city walls, thermal baths, residential buildings, and water infrastructure. The excavated structures and objects found on site show how this Roman settlement was organized and how its inhabitants lived.
The settlement was founded in the first century BC and grew into a Roman administrative center long before Barcino, now Barcelona, was established. It remained active until around the sixth century AD, leaving behind layers of urban life that excavations continue to uncover.
The House of the Dolphins features floor mosaics showing sea creatures, offering a direct look at how wealthy Romans decorated their homes. These rooms give visitors a concrete sense of domestic taste and daily habits in a Roman household.
Much of the site is open to the sky, so visiting in the cooler morning hours or on overcast days makes the experience more comfortable. Wear sturdy shoes, as the ground between excavated areas can be uneven.
The thermal building at Baetulo is one of the oldest known Roman baths on the Iberian Peninsula, built when Roman presence in the region was still new. This makes it an early example of how Roman urban planning was applied far from the center of the empire.
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