Centro de Interpretación de Caldoval

Centro de Interpretación de Caldoval is a small interpretation centre in Mugardos, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, built around a Roman archaeological site uncovered near the Santa Lucía inlet.

What was found under Mugardos?

The land where the centre now stands once belonged to the gas company Reganosa. During construction work carried out between 2001 and 2006, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a Roman seaside villa (villa maritima) that had been inhabited from the 1st to the 5th century AD. The find turned out to be significant enough that the site was placed under protection, and the interpretation centre was built to present the discoveries and explain their historical context to visitors.

What makes this site stand out?

The most notable feature of Caldoval is its private bath complex with a palestra — the only known example of its kind in the entire northwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. Visitors can identify the different rooms of the bathing complex: the palestra, an open space used for physical exercise, along with the frigidarium (the cold-water room) and the caldarium (the hot-water room). Walking through the layout gives a concrete sense of the daily hygiene and social routines of the people who lived in this Roman villa nearly two thousand years ago.

What can visitors do there?

The centre runs guided tours that explain the function of each room within the bath complex and recount the story of how the site was discovered. It also hosts educational workshops, including activities aimed at children, designed to make daily life in Roman times easy to grasp. The programme of activities changes through the year, so it is worth checking the current schedule before visiting.

How much does it cost to visit?

Admission is free, and the centre is open all year round, making it an easy addition to any itinerary around Mugardos and the Ferrol estuary.

How do you get there?

The centre sits within the municipality of Mugardos, right next to the Santa Lucía inlet, at coordinates 43.458, -8.2598. It is a convenient stop for anyone exploring the Galician coastline and the Ferrol estuary area, combining coastal scenery with the history of ancient settlement in the region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Centro de Interpretación de Caldoval? It is an interpretation centre in Mugardos presenting the remains of a Roman seaside villa with private baths, discovered during construction work on land belonging to the company Reganosa.

What exactly can visitors see on site? The remains of a bathing complex with a palestra, frigidarium and caldarium — the only known private baths of this kind with a palestra in the whole northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

From which period does the site date? The villa was inhabited between the 1st and 5th centuries AD, during the Roman era.

Is admission free, and is the centre open year-round? Yes, admission is free and the centre stays open throughout the year; it also offers guided tours and educational workshops.