Museo de la Romanización

Museo de la Romanización is an archaeology museum in Calahorra, in Spain's La Rioja region, dedicated to the ancient past of the town and its surrounding territory. Housed across three floors of a stone townhouse in the heart of the old quarter, on Calle Ángel Oliván, it guides visitors through more than seven centuries of history — from the Celtiberian era through the closing period of Roman rule.

Where is it located, and what building does it occupy?

The museum sits inside a building constructed in the 1930s that locals still call "Casa del Millonario" (The Millionaire's House). The nickname has a real story behind it: the property's original owner won three million pesetas in the national lottery and used the prize money to build the residence, which today belongs to the regional government of La Rioja. The building opened as the Museo Municipal in 1984, with the inauguration led by the King and Queen of Spain — an event still remembered as a milestone in the institution's history.

What can visitors see inside?

The permanent exhibition spans five rooms and takes visitors on a chronological journey through the region's past, from the 4th century BC to the 4th century AD. It brings together the most significant archaeological finds from the Celtiberian and Roman periods unearthed across La Rioja.

Among the highlights are large floor mosaics recovered from excavations on Calle Enramada and Calle Cabezo, along with wall paintings from the La Clínica archaeological site. The collection also includes Roman sculptures carved in marble and alabaster, among them a figure known as the Dama Calagurritana, depictions of Aphrodite and Jupiter, and a vessel decorated with circus scenes referencing the public spectacles once staged in ancient Calagurris, the Roman name for Calahorra.

Why does Calahorra hold such rich Roman heritage?

Ancient Calagurris was one of the more important Roman settlements on the Iberian Peninsula, which explains the scale and quality of the artifacts uncovered here over the decades. The museum was created precisely so that material recovered from the many excavations carried out around the town would stay in Calahorra rather than being dispersed to outside collections, remaining accessible to both local residents and visitors to La Rioja.

How much time should visitors plan for a visit?

Given the compact layout of five rooms across three floors, a relaxed visit that includes reading the display information typically takes between 45 minutes and an hour and a half. It pairs well with a stop at Calahorra's cathedral or a walk through the old town, since the museum sits right in the middle of the historic quarter.

Frequently asked questions

What sets Museo de la Romanización apart from other archaeology museums in the region? It focuses exclusively on material connected to ancient Calagurris and its surroundings, displaying mosaics, wall paintings, and sculptures that come directly from identified excavation sites within Calahorra itself.

What does the nickname "Casa del Millonario" refer to? It's the informal name given to the museum's building after its first owner won a large sum in the national lottery in the 1930s and used the money to build the residence that now houses the collection.

What historical period does the exhibition cover? The chronology runs from the 4th century BC, corresponding to the Celtiberian era, through to the 4th century AD, at the close of the Roman period.

Are there original Roman mosaics on display? Yes — among the key exhibits are large floor mosaics uncovered on Calle Enramada and Calle Cabezo in Calahorra, shown alongside wall paintings recovered from the La Clínica site.