Villa de Matabuey archaeological site

Villa de Matabuey is a Roman archaeological site near Coca, technically within the municipality of Nava de la Asunción, where a substantial country residence of the Roman aristocracy stood from the 2nd century AD onward.

Where exactly is Villa de Matabuey located?

The site sits about 2 kilometres north of the centre of Nava de la Asunción and roughly 5 kilometres from Coca, in the province of Segovia, Castile and León. Despite the frequent association with Coca, the villa falls administratively under Nava de la Asunción; the two towns are linked by a short stretch of local road, making the ruins an easy side trip from Coca.

What have excavations uncovered?

Digs have revealed a residential building of roughly 800 to 1,000 square metres, the core of a larger agricultural estate that included grain storage and space for livestock. In 2018, archaeologists found the remains of a mosaic that once covered the floor of one of the rooms.

The baths, and an unusual discovery beneath them

The villa had its own thermal baths, complete with hot-water pools, a standard feature of a wealthy Roman household. Beneath the floor of those baths, archaeologists found the grave of a child between three and five years old. Burying a child inside a residential building rather than in a cemetery is unusual, and the find continues to puzzle researchers.

What does the villa have to do with Coca and Emperor Theodosius?

Coca is traditionally regarded as the birthplace of the Roman emperor Theodosius the Great, and that connection is often cited as one reason such a grand villa was built in the surrounding countryside. Proximity to a seat of imperial prestige may well have encouraged the local elite to build on this scale.

Can you visit the site today?

Villa de Matabuey remains an active excavation, with fresh digging seasons carried out there periodically, and it appears as a point of interest on Nava de la Asunción's official tourism pages. It does not, however, keep fixed public opening hours, so anyone planning a visit should check current access with the Nava de la Asunción town council beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Villa de Matabuey? About 2 km north of Nava de la Asunción and roughly 5 km from Coca, in the province of Segovia.

How old is the villa? It dates to the 2nd century AD, during the period of Roman rule on the Castilian plateau.

What is the most intriguing find at the site? The grave of a child discovered beneath the floor of the thermal baths, an unusual burial spot for a Roman villa.

Is the villa connected to Emperor Theodosius? Not directly, but its closeness to Coca, traditionally held to be Theodosius the Great's birthplace, helps explain why such a prestigious residence stood in this area.

Is the site open to visitors yet? Yes, though without fixed opening hours; excavation seasons are still ongoing, so it's worth confirming access with the local town council first.