Greek Roman Ruins of Empúries, Archaeological site in L'Escala, Spain
The Greek Roman Ruins of Empúries are an open-air archaeological site in L'Escala, on the coast of the Gulf of Roses, where the remains of a Greek city called Emporion and a Roman city called Emporiae sit side by side. The site includes streets, temples, houses, and public buildings from both periods, along with an on-site museum that displays objects found during excavations.
Greeks founded Emporion in the 6th century BC on a small island near the coast before later moving to the mainland to build the Neapolis. In 218 BC, the port served as the entry point for Roman troops arriving on the Iberian Peninsula, after which a separate Roman city grew up beside the Greek one.
In the Neapolis, the Greek part of the site, visitors can see the remains of temples, paved streets, and areas where fish was processed into sauces and preserves, showing how daily life was tied to the sea. The Roman section has houses with floor mosaics still in place, which give a sense of how homes were decorated at the time.
Walking the full site takes several hours, so it helps to arrive early and wear comfortable shoes, as much of the path runs over uneven ground. Information panels are available in several languages throughout the site, and guided tours for groups can be booked in advance.
Near the site, the remains of a Hellenistic harbor pier built by the Greeks for sea trade are still visible on the nearby beach. It was at this very spot that the Olympic torch arrived from Greece for the 1992 Barcelona Games.
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