Complete Archaeological Discovery of the Roman 'City-State'

Its archaeological significance stems from the abundance of well-preserved elements, allowing a complete view of the Roman 'City-State'. This prosperous city was born at the end of the 2nd century BC. The street layout is rectangular, with two main roads—one horizontal and one vertical—crossing through the forum, which is very striking. Here, there are the papal buildings, the cathedral, and the structures that make up the city's administrative life. The lower part of the site is a monumental area, with the theater located on the steepest part to utilize the slope for building terraces. It is believed that the residential areas for commoners might have been located in the higher parts. The saltworks (known as Baelo Claudia for its famous 'garum') still exist, as do the market, baths, and one of the three aqueducts. In 1989, the Andalusian government declared it an archaeological site.