Segóbriga Archaeological Park

In 1888, a Celtiberian burial site was discovered near the town of Saelices inside of a cave, containing human remains and artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. Gradually, architectural relics from the Roman era were unearthed in the surrounding area. This wasn’t just a burial site; this was one of the most important cities in the ancient Roman world.

Originally a Celtic settlement, Segóbriga was conquered by the Roman Republic in the second century B.C. and became its oppidum. Public baths, city walls, an acropolis, and a massive amphitheatre seating 5,500 were erected under Roman rule. Many of these structures have survived to this day and remain in good condition. 

The city began to decline in the late imperial years, and most inhabitants moved to present-day Saelices. By the time of the Reconquista, Segóbriga had been largely abandoned. Declared a National Monument in 1931, the park remains one of the most important Celtic-Roman archaeological sites and a well-preserved portal to the ancient past.