Dating from the first to the third centuries, the tombs in the garden come in a range of colors and shapes like urns and stelae. During Roman times, funerals were outlawed within Barcino’s walls, so the tombs would have lined the road leading out of the city. At this site, there’s an interpretation center that displays information on ancient Roman burial customs as well as some excavated pottery, including an eerie child’s burial amphora. The Via Sepulcral Romana is easy to visit independently and is also an occasional stop on Gothic Quarter walking tours.
In the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter (Barri Gòtic), just a block from Las Ramblas, the Plaça de la Vila de Madrid houses the Via Sepulcral Romana. It’s less than a 5-minute walk from Catalunya Square (Plaça de Catalunya) and the best Metro station is Catalunya (Line 1 and Line 3).
The Via Sepulcral Romana is rarely busy, despite its odd opening hours. The interpretation center and site are only open on Tuesdays around lunchtime and on Sundays. It’s closed on December 25, January 1, May 1, and June 24. On days when the site isn’t open, you can admire the tombs from the surrounding walkway.
The Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA) is a great place to start your journey back in time. On its lowest levels, you can explore the actual ruins of Roman Barcelona. Elsewhere, parts of the city walls are on show in the Gothic Quarter, notably on Plaça Nova. While only a few columns remain of the Temple of Augustus (Temple d’August), it’s extremely photogenic.
