Urban planning and real estate wealth in Marbella date back thousands of years. During the Roman Empire, there were citizens on the Costa del Sol who enjoyed wealth, glamour, and gastronomy. Evidence of this is the remains of the Roman Villa of Río Verde, with mosaics depicting the foods they consumed and a spectacular mosaic of Medusa.

They also enjoyed a good spa and a high standard of living, as demonstrated by the impressive remains of the Roman Baths of Guadalmina. This piece of Roman engineering is similar to the baths of Carthage and is currently being studied by internationally renowned archaeologists.

Near the Guadalmina Baths is the early Christian basilica of Vega del Mar. This building is part of a larger complex, associated with the Baths, which includes Roman tombs, a fish-salting factory, aqueducts, and more. This area is also being studied with the aim of proving that these are the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Cilniana.

Location: Calle Carlos Posac Mon, Urbanización Río Verde Playa (Marbella)

The Roman villa of Río Verde is located about 5 kilometers from Marbella, in the middle of the Golden Mile, on the left bank of the Río Verde. It can be reached via the National Road 340 towards Algeciras. Discovered by a British traveler in the eighteenth century, it was not excavated until the 1960s. Initially, it was believed to be the remains of the ancient Roman city of Salduba, but it was soon discovered to be a large independent Roman villa.

The finds place the villa in the first century AD, with ceramics, marbles, and metal objects found now housed in the Municipal Museum. The general interest in this site revolves around its mosaic flooring, composed of small cubic pieces in various colors called “tesserae.”

To the right of the entrance is a square room with a floor decorated with mosaics, featuring the head of Medusa as the central theme, a symbol of good luck. The rest of the decoration includes alternating geometric elements, except in the patio, where there are various representations related to culinary arts, such as animals, stoves, fountains, roasters, soup tureens, and skewers, all in black and white colors.

Visiting hours: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

Location: Calle 3, Urbanización Guadalmina Baja (San Pedro Alcántara)

These baths are a spectacular thermal building constructed in the 2nd century AD. It is a highly complex construction, both in architectural conception and functionality. Although it is unknown if it was the work of a significant figure or linked to an urban center, it is evident the ambition to achieve an original and surprising work, reflecting the power of the one who undertook the construction.

The Roman thermal complex has a central area surrounded by seven high-vaulted rooms. It has a very precise geometric floor plan, octagonal in shape, organized around a central open core with several niches acting as alcoves. Around this, in a radial manner, seven similarly shaped rooms are attached, leaving a trapezoidal area on the west side, possibly the entrance.

All rooms have high vaulted ceilings, and there is a higher level around the central room’s oculus, which is thought to have been a castellum aquae where the now-missing aqueduct would have been connected. It is notable how well much of the building has withstood the test of time, thanks to the variety of construction methods used, especially the systematic use of concrete structures throughout the complex, and the use of arches, vaults, and domes as architectural solutions for openings and roofs.

Guided tour hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Location: Calle Eucaliptos, Urbanización Linda Vista Playa (San Pedro Alcántara)

Dating back to the 5th century AD, this complex consists of a basilical building with a double apse and a necropolis. It features a baptismal font designed for immersion baptism. With over 1,500 years of history, the early Christian basilica is one of the most brilliant archaeological manifestations of early Christianity.

The building has a rectangular floor plan, slightly oriented northwest-southeast. It consists of a central body with three naves separated by pillars, with the most dominant feature being the existence of two opposing apses, serving as altar and martyrdom, a characteristic that makes it unique with few parallels in the Iberian Peninsula. Next to the westernmost apse is the baptistery, housing several baptismal fonts, including one that combines the Greek cross and fish shapes, designed for the immersion baptism rite.

The associated necropolis has around two hundred excavated burials, dating from the 3rd to the 7th century AD.

Guided tour hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11:15 AM to 2:00 PM.