Maybe you don't know that the historical origin of the current city of Gijón goes back to the Roman times.
It was in the 1st century AD when they decided to move from their inland settlement, in the fort that you can now visit nearby. Campa Torres, until St. Catherine's Hill, which due to its location on the seashore became a very important enclave on the maritime routes through the Cantabrian Sea.
During my most recent trip to Asturias I had the opportunity to visit two places that are a true reflection of the Roman presence in Gijón, of which I admit that until then I had no knowledge.
I mean the Roman baths of Campo Valdés and the Roman Villa of Veranes.
The existence of the thermal baths was known through archaeological surveys carried out in 1903, but it was not until those carried out from 1990 onwards that true knowledge of the size of the Roman building was gained.
Part of the remains of the Campo Valdés Hot Springs They can be visited since 1994, and you find them in the central esplanade located in front of the St. Peter's Church, at the beginning of the beach and at the foot of the aforementioned St. Catherine's Hill.
When you visit the Roman baths of Gijón You will be able to see an exhibition area, where its history is explained with information panels, and also archaeological remains that date back to the end of the 1st century AD
For the Romans, the thermal baths were not only a place to enjoy baths and saunas, and to perform physical exercises, but also a meeting point for citizens, including slaves. Later, during the Middle Ages, the thermal baths became a place of worship and a necropolis.
During your visit you can see different areas of the thermal complex, both the hot room and the cold room, although a large part of the original Roman building is located under the foundations of the St. Peter's Church.
The Visiting hours of the Roman baths of Gijón They are, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9,30:14 a.m. to 17 p.m. and from 19,30 p.m. to 10:XNUMX p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, it opens at XNUMX a.m. in the morning, maintaining other hours.
On the other hand, 13 kilometers southwest of Gijón, following the AS-2 highway that leads to Oviedo, you have the archaeological remains of the Roman Villa of Veranes.
Also open to the public in 2007, as part of the archaeological museums of Gijón, along with the aforementioned hot springs and with the Campa Torres fort, what we can now see is the result of the archaeological campaigns carried out between 1983 and 1987.
La Villa de Veranes It was an agricultural property with a residential area for the family and an exploitation area. This complex, organized into several terraces dug into a hillside, began to be built in the 4th century AD.
When you arrive at Veranes, in the museum building you will find the information area with panels and models, and going down a path along the hillside you will see the archaeological remains. The highlight is a covered area where some original pavements are preserved, with polychrome mosaics that even maintain their color.
The Visiting hours of the Roman Villa of Veranes They are, in summer, from 10,30:19 a.m. to 10 p.m., and in winter, from 15 a.m. to 10 p.m. During Holy Week the hours are from 17 a.m. to XNUMX p.m. Closed on Sundays.
El ticket price (2013) for each of these archaeological museums is 2,50 euros, with a reduced rate of 1,40 euros for pensioners, youth cards and students. Admission is free on Sundays or with the tourist card Gijón Card.
If you purchase the voucher to visit the museums of Gijón (the three archaeological museums, the Railway Museum and the Pueblo de Asturias Museum), for three museums the voucher will cost you 3 euros, and for five museums, 4 euros.
Here you have more photos of the Roman museums of Gijón.
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