Archaeological Site of Empúries: gateway to the Greeks and Romans

This magical place was the entrance of the Greek and Roman cultures in the Iberian Peninsula, and it is precisely Empúries, which gave its name to the Empordà area. First came the Greeks and founded Emporion (s.VI BC) and then the Romans founded Emporiae (BC). Then, the walls separating the two cities were demolished and the cities were united in one.

Today it forms one of the archaeological sites ranked by UNESCO as one of the most beautiful in the world. It is one of the only two Greek settlements we know in the peninsula and the only one in which Greeks and Romans coexisted. Excavations began in 1908 and only 25% of the total area has been excavated yet.

The entire tour lasts about two hours and you can enjoy the ancient Roman mosaics in excellent conditions, the walks through the streets of the city and take a visit to the museum building with some of the objects discovered during the excavations. We also highly recommend the theatrical visits where Iulia Domitia or Caius Aemilius will show you how was his city and how people lived (mandatory pre booking).

After the visit to the museum we invite you to walk along the beach of Empúries. In low season is a luxury to walk around this quiet area and feel the sea breeze. You will reach the remains of the ancient Hellenistic dock that protected the ancient port city. This emblematic spot was chosen as a point of arrival of the Olympic flame during the summer of 1992.

Then, right in the pine forest that lies between the medieval town of Sant Martí de Empúries and the old pier you can enjoy a good picnic leveraging the tables under the pines and where children will be able to play in the park there. You can also go to eat at any of the restaurants in the village of Sant Martí d'Empúries. And, to finish digesting food, you can take a last walk along the promenade and the streets of the old medieval village.

Finally, we also recommend a visit to the museum's website where you will find comprehensive information on activities, schedules and prices. By the way, admission is free on the last Tuesday of each month (from October to June) and for children under 8 years.

And to whet your appetite, here you can enjoy a beautiful 360 ° view of the ruins of Empúries.