La Almoina Archaeological Museum

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The site contains the ruins of the Roman forum, the city's political and social heart during its initial founding.

2. 2

   Excavations revealed a Visigothic baptistery, indicating the site’s religious transition after the Roman era.

3. 3

   The name 'Almoina' refers to the 14th-century charitable institution that historically occupied the land above the ruins.

4. 4

   The floor level of the museum allows you to stand at the original Roman street grade, several meters below modern street level.

5. 5

   An Islamic-era water wheel or noria remains on-site, showcasing medieval irrigation techniques.

6. 6

   Many of the columns and marble slabs found in situ were repurposed from older Roman structures during later historical periods.

7. 7

   The site provides a clear vertical timeline where archaeologists identified distinct layers of soil representing consecutive civilizations.

8. 8

   The glass roof is designed to allow natural light to filter down to the excavations while serving as a public plaza above.

Overview

La Almoina Archaeological Museum is a subterranean site displaying 2,000 years of Valencian history beneath a glass-floor roof. The site reveals the urban evolution of the city from its Roman founding in 138 BC through the Visigothic and Islamic periods. Visitors walk on suspended walkways directly above the exposed remains of ancient streets, baths, and granaries. The complex houses the original thermal baths of the Roman colony of Valentia. It features the foundation stones of the Almoina building, which gave the site its name and served as a food distribution center for the poor. The museum is integrated into the architectural footprint of the city's historic center. Archaeologists discovered these remains during excavations starting in the mid-1980s. The site remains the most significant archaeological center in Valencia due to the density of superimposed historical layers.

Insider tips

• Bring a light jacket as the underground environment remains significantly cooler than the surface, even in summer.

• Walk slowly across the glass floor sections to see the depth of the ruins beneath your feet.

• Combine your visit with the nearby Cathedral, as the archaeological layers connect to the evolution of the ecclesiastical complex.