The Greco-Roman ruins of Empúries are one of the most important archaeological sites in Catalonia and constitute a privileged window to understand the ancient past of the Iberian Peninsula. Located in the municipality of l’Escala, in the Alt Empordà region (Girona), these ruins reflect the coexistence and evolution of two great cultures of antiquity: the Greek and the Roman.
Empúries was founded in the 6th century BC by the Phocian Greeks, from Massalia (now Marseille), with the name Emporion, which means “market”. Initially, it was a small commercial enclave on the island of Sant Martí d’Empúries, from where commercial relations were established with the Iberian tribes of the territory. Over time, the Greeks moved the settlement to the mainland and built a larger and more organized city there, known as Neapolis. This city retained a clear Hellenistic structure, with well-laid streets, walls, temples and public buildings.
In 218 BC, as part of the Second Punic War, Roman troops landed in Empúries, thus initiating the Romanization of the peninsula. Over time, the Romans founded a new city adjacent to the Greek one: the Roman city of Emporiae. This new city presented the characteristics of Roman urban planning: forum, baths, amphitheater, domus decorated with mosaics and cobblestone streets. For several centuries, the two cities coexisted and formed a multicultural nucleus where Greek, Roman and Iberian traditions were mixed.
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Empúries gradually lost importance and was finally abandoned around the 3rd century AD. For many centuries, its remains were hidden underground until, in the 19th century, the first excavations began. Since then, archaeological work has brought to light a large part of the two cities, turning Empúries into an open-air museum of great heritage value.
Among the most outstanding elements that can be visited today are the Roman mosaics, especially those that decorated the houses of the wealthiest families; the Roman forum, the center of political and social life; and the Asklepion, a temple dedicated to the god of medicine, Asklepios, of which an imposing statue is still preserved. The Greek walls, the remains of the old port and various public and private buildings are also visible.
The Empúries site is also a key space for historical research and dissemination. The Museum of Archaeology of Catalonia has a headquarters there that organizes exhibitions, educational activities and guided tours to deepen knowledge of the classical past. The privileged location of the site, facing the sea and surrounded by nature, contributes to the charm of the visit and reinforces its cultural and tourist value.
In short, the Greco-Roman ruins of Empúries are a living testament to the classical legacy in the Iberian Peninsula. They represent the meeting point of two great civilizations that profoundly marked the history of the Mediterranean and that, thanks to the conservation and dissemination of their heritage, continue to form part of our collective identity.
