Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina

Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina is an underground archaeological museum in the historic heart of València, right next to the cathedral. It brings together Roman, Visigothic and Islamic layers of the city's history in a single site.

Where is Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina located?

The site sits on Plaça de l'Almoina, in the old town (Ciutat Vella), immediately beside València Cathedral. This exact spot is where centuries of urban history have literally stacked on top of each other, from Roman foundations to medieval structures.

How was the archaeological site discovered?

The find was accidental. In 1985, during preparatory works for a new building on the square, workers uncovered extensive remains of the ancient city hidden beneath the surface. The planned construction was ultimately scrapped, and the city authorities chose something far more valuable instead: exposing and preserving the discovery. Building the museum complex that integrates the ruins with their urban surroundings took from 1985 to 2005, and the centre finally opened to visitors in 2007.

What can visitors see inside the centre?

L'Almoina isn't just an excavation site, it works as a genuine anthology of the city's urban history, with several eras layered on top of one another.

From the earliest phase, the Roman founding of the city (Valentia), visitors can see a sanctuary dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing, a horreum (Roman granary), and remains of baths. It's worth knowing that the original Roman settlement was almost entirely destroyed during the conflict between Pompey and Sertorius, and the site then lay abandoned for roughly fifty years. From the later Roman Empire period, fragments of the curia, a basilica and the porticoes of the forum have survived.

The next layer belongs to the Visigothic period. The southern part of the site is particularly notable for its martyrial and episcopal zone, where a baptistery and the apse of the Visigothic cathedral remain, along with funerary graves connected to this place of worship.

On top of that come traces of the Islamic era, including elements of water infrastructure, evidence of the site's continuous occupation across the centuries, right up to the Christian period.

Who is this site for?

Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina is a must for anyone interested in history and archaeology, but also for visitors simply curious about what València looked like before it became a modern city. The underground space lets you literally step below today's street level and walk through layers of time, from a Roman sanctuary, through a Visigothic baptistery, to remnants of the Islamic period.

Its location right next to the cathedral makes it easy to combine a visit with other landmarks of the historic centre. Plaça de l'Almoina sits on the route of most walking tours through Ciutat Vella.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina? It's an underground archaeological museum in València showing Roman, Visigothic and Islamic layers of the city, discovered in 1985 next to the cathedral.

When was the site discovered? The ruins were uncovered in 1985 during construction works on Plaça de l'Almoina. The planned building was cancelled, and the site was turned into a museum complex that opened in 2007.

What exactly can you see there? Among other things, a Roman sanctuary of Asclepius, a horreum and baths, remains of the curia, basilica and forum porticoes, plus a Visigothic baptistery, the cathedral apse and traces of the Islamic era.

Where exactly is the centre located? On Plaça de l'Almoina in the historic centre of València, right next to the city's cathedral.