Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta

Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta is an underground archaeological museum in Zaragoza, built beneath Plaza de la Seo right next to the city's cathedral. It preserves the remains of the Roman forum, the political and commercial heart of Caesaraugusta, the colony founded by Emperor Augustus at the point where the Ebro meets its tributaries.

How to get there?

The museum sits in the middle of the old town, at Plaza de la Seo 2, next door to La Seo cathedral and the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. It is best reached on foot, since most of historic Zaragoza's landmarks cluster within a few hundred metres of each other. The site is one of four venues making up the so-called Caesaraugusta Route, dedicated to the city's Roman past: alongside the Forum museum there are the Public Baths, the River Port, and the Roman Theatre, all within easy walking distance and visitable in a single day.

What will you see?

The museum opened in 1995, and its main draw is the setting itself — the exhibition runs underground, at the level of the ancient streets and buildings it displays. Visitors walk past the remains of the commercial district from the Augustan period: shop walls, water-supply channels, and drainage installations that once served a busy market quarter. Alongside them survive the remnants of the forum proper from the reign of Emperor Tiberius — the square where the city's public, judicial, and commercial life unfolded — together with a stretch of a large sewer that once carried wastewater away from the site.

The visit route follows the exposed foundations, tracing how this part of the city changed over several decades of Roman rule. Audiovisual displays and scale models reconstruct the appearance of the old marketplace, helping visitors picture the daily bustle of Caesaraugusta's traders, officials, and passers-by moving between stalls and porticoes.

When to visit?

The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00, and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 to 14:30. It is closed on Mondays. A standard ticket costs 4 euros, a reduced ticket (for young people, students, and large families, among others) costs 3 euros, and children under 16 and adults over 65 get in free. Admission is also free on the first Sunday of every month, making it a good option for budget-conscious travellers. Because the exhibition is underground, the temperature stays fairly stable year-round, so a visit can be planned at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly can you see at the Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta? The remains of the Roman forum and its adjoining commercial district: shop foundations, water pipes, drainage channels, and a section of the forum from Tiberius's reign, including a large sewer.

Where exactly is the museum located? Underneath Plaza de la Seo 2, in the centre of Zaragoza, next to La Seo cathedral.

How much does admission cost? A standard ticket is 4 euros and a reduced ticket is 3 euros. Children under 16 and adults over 65 enter free, as does everyone on the first Sunday of the month.

Is it worth combining the visit with Zaragoza's other Roman museums? Yes — the Forum museum forms part of the Caesaraugusta Route together with the Public Baths, the River Port, and the Roman Theatre, all located close together and telling a connected story of the city's Roman history.