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full for 2026
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Carthaginem conveniunt populi LXV...the following towns, enjoying the rights of ancient Latium... and the Valerienses. Pliny the Elder, Natural History 3-25.
The Roman city of Valeria is located in central Spain, south of Cuenca in the Sierra Alta region. Proconsul Gaius Valerius Flaccus founded the city between 93 and 82 BC after conquering the indigenous Celtiberians. Given the military climate at the time, the Romans built the city on a narrow, well-defended plateau perched on a cliff. Valeria was also designed as a settlement for colonists, and it soon became one of the administrative, economic and commercial centers of the new Roman region. |
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The imposing gorge of the Gritos River sculpts and shapes the landscape and ecosystem around Valeria: Deep limestone canyons, diverse vegetation in which thyme and rosemary mingle with black juniper and poplar groves, and peregrine falcons and eagle owls.
Valeria’s splendor spans from the time of Augustus to the Flavian emperors. Over this time the city grew in importance and grandeur. That said, we have found remains from the Republic, including part of the original forum and some adjacent buildings. Due to the plateau's irregular terrain, Roman architects built a large artificial terrace on the narrowest part of the city to create a flat space with four retaining walls suitable to support and hold a big square. The city erected a temple to the cult of the emperor on the forum's west side, while the eastern side features an 86-meter-long colonnade and a nymphaeum. Under the nymphaeum we can still see the remains of the taverns. In the rest of the space around the forum there are public and administrative buildings such as the curia, the basilica, and the tabularium.
The forum was the administrative, political, and religious center of the city. It was a large, arcaded square around which the main public buildings were distributed. Under its pavement sat four large water cisterns. The remodeling of the forum took place under Emperors Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudio, ending roughly between the years 20 and 50.
The four cisterns under the center of the forum were covered by barrel vaults and are an exemplary example of Roman hydraulic engineering. Its walls are made of opus caementicium, the floor has a quarter-round molding at the juncture with the wall in order to facilitate cleaning and to prevent leaks. The water ran through lead pipes, also known as fistulae plumbae.
The four cisterns under the center of the forum were covered by barrel vaults and are an exemplary example of Roman hydraulic engineering. Its walls are made of opus caementicium, the floor has a quarter-round molding at the juncture with the wall in order to facilitate cleaning and to prevent leaks. The water ran through lead pipes, also known as fistulae plumbae.
The basilica is located to the north of the forum and also underwent extensive renovations, changing its archaic double portico for a central nave and a perimeter ambulatory. The interior was decorated with stuccoes and limestone slabs with ornaments and moldings.
The taverns were located on the southern, eastern, and western sides of the forum. They were commercial locations with a large doorway and usually covered with a barrel vault. A skylight let light into a wooden attic that was used for storage. They faced the main roads of the city.
A cryptoporticus extends to the western side and a monumental entrance with a staircase sits on the southern edge.
The taverns were located on the southern, eastern, and western sides of the forum. They were commercial locations with a large doorway and usually covered with a barrel vault. A skylight let light into a wooden attic that was used for storage. They faced the main roads of the city.
A cryptoporticus extends to the western side and a monumental entrance with a staircase sits on the southern edge.
The terrain drops abruptly on this side of the Forum so builders needed to construct a high retaining wall. To decorate this relatively unsightly wall, the Forum planners created a shrine to the water gods, typical in the Celtiberian world, that covered the upper half of the retaining wall. A fountain covered the lower part of the wall, and below them were some shops. Their roofs served as part of an elongated terrace at a lower level. This way of taking advantage of the difficult topography provided the city with a large balcony over part of the streets and over one of the cliffs.
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Site Visits: Forum Nymphaeum Baths Lapidarium Lectures: Hispania Romana The Roman Civitates Roman Forums The Valerian water system Roman construction techniques Ornamental architecture |
Daily Schedule 6:30 am Breakfast 7:30 Excavation 10:30 Snack break 11:30 Excavation 1:30 pm Excavation ends 2:00 Lunch 3:00 Free time 6:00 Workshops/Lectures/Lab/ Site tours 8:30 Dinner |
excavation
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The first organized excavations of Valeria ran from 1951 to 1974, and its first museum opened in 1952. The nearby villagers involved themselves in the project, putting an end to the looting of the site. Since the mid-1970s, archaeological work continued in the forum, basilica, and adjacent buildings. The last structures to be uncovered were the taverns near the nymphaeum, the cave dwelling known as the Hanging House, and the cryptoporticus. Two good examples of private homes were also excavated: the Pit House and the Adobe House.
The Roman city had a good water supply through a system of aqueducts. Some of them, carved into the rock, are still visible. The artifacts found in Valeria are in the Cuenca Museum, including the so-called Treasure of Valeria that consists of silver coins dating from around 185 BC, following the Second Punic War. |
Roman Baths
The Roman baths of Valeria were discovered in 2014-15 on the northern slope of the forum. They date to the 1st century and fell into disuse in the 3rd century. The complex covered more than 1,000 square meters, of which about 250 have been excavated. Archaeologists have uncovered an arcaded palestra with columns, a swimming pool, a room with a polychrome mosaic, and a room with a marble floor. The walls were covered with marble. Numerous ceramic pieces, marble, cornices, ironwork, stucco, and between 30,000 and 40,000 tesserae have been found.
The frigidarium, or cold water room, was paved with polychrome and geometric mosaics. The western side of the frigidarium contains a natatio, or indoor pool, with a series of steps or benches attached to the northern and southern flanks. The excavation of these rooms has recovered about 1,000 marble pieces of different types and provenances that belonged to both the paving and parietal coatings, as well as abundant pieces of mosaics and wall paintings that illustrate the decorative richness of this space.
The Roman baths of Valeria were discovered in 2014-15 on the northern slope of the forum. They date to the 1st century and fell into disuse in the 3rd century. The complex covered more than 1,000 square meters, of which about 250 have been excavated. Archaeologists have uncovered an arcaded palestra with columns, a swimming pool, a room with a polychrome mosaic, and a room with a marble floor. The walls were covered with marble. Numerous ceramic pieces, marble, cornices, ironwork, stucco, and between 30,000 and 40,000 tesserae have been found.
The frigidarium, or cold water room, was paved with polychrome and geometric mosaics. The western side of the frigidarium contains a natatio, or indoor pool, with a series of steps or benches attached to the northern and southern flanks. The excavation of these rooms has recovered about 1,000 marble pieces of different types and provenances that belonged to both the paving and parietal coatings, as well as abundant pieces of mosaics and wall paintings that illustrate the decorative richness of this space.
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Goals for 2026
During the 2002-2025 excavation campaigns we made numerous discoveries, such as fragments of sculptures and pedestals with inscriptions, including some dedicated by Gaius Grattio Nigrino, Lucio Valerio Proculo, and Lucio Fulvio Crassus. A fragment of a bronze torch uncovered in 2022 can be attributed to the goddess Ceres, a divinity whose statue would stand out among the figures of the local elites and the imperial family in this part of the forum. Numerous decorative architectural elements also appeared, such as fragments of Corinthian bases, columns, and capitals from the time of Augustus. Small bronze pieces have also been found, such as a writing stylus, a bowl used to fill lamps with oil, a piece of a small sculpture of the birth of Venus, rings, bracelets, hair pins, and game chips. |
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In 2025, more statue pedestals were discovered, two of them with inscriptions. A bronze forearm belonging to a statue was also found. Numerous everyday objects were also discovered: fragments of amphorae, game pieces, pins and hair needles, which give us an insight into the market environment, as confirmed by the use of the cryptoporticus.
In 2026, excavations will continue to focus on the western cryptoporticus. After we uncovered the remnants of the original pavement, formed by a layer of mortar, we will excavate at the end of northern corner of cryptoporticus and basilica, the last space to investigate in this side. |
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accommodation
The team will stay in two traditional guest houses in small town of Valeria, population 80, located in the mountains of Cuenca. We'll share double rooms and the common spaces include the living room, dining room, kitchen, and the outdoor patios with a grill -- the perfect place to rest and hang out with our new friends.
Breakfast will be provided at our houses, and we will take turns setting up breakfast and the midday snack on site. We will eat a fixed menu at a local restaurant for lunch and dinner.
Valeria's town center is the Plaza Mayor, where we find the church, the 18th-century town hall, and some large homes such as the House of the Curato and the House of the Dukes of Granada.
The church of Nuestra Señora de la Sey, which was the seat of the Visigoth bishopric, stands out among the buildings in town. The Visigoths likely built the church over a Roman temple dedicated to the indigenous god Airón that the Romans adopted. A Romanesque church followed in the 12th and 13th centuries with three naves and three apses, unique in the province. And in the 16th and 17th centuries locals renovated the church again to its current state.
Attached to the church are the sacristy and the Parish Museum. This museum holds artistic treasures such as Baroque canvases, a mudejar ceiling, Roman funerary stelae, Visigothic architectural elements, and an altar made of Talavera tiles.
Breakfast will be provided at our houses, and we will take turns setting up breakfast and the midday snack on site. We will eat a fixed menu at a local restaurant for lunch and dinner.
Valeria's town center is the Plaza Mayor, where we find the church, the 18th-century town hall, and some large homes such as the House of the Curato and the House of the Dukes of Granada.
The church of Nuestra Señora de la Sey, which was the seat of the Visigoth bishopric, stands out among the buildings in town. The Visigoths likely built the church over a Roman temple dedicated to the indigenous god Airón that the Romans adopted. A Romanesque church followed in the 12th and 13th centuries with three naves and three apses, unique in the province. And in the 16th and 17th centuries locals renovated the church again to its current state.
Attached to the church are the sacristy and the Parish Museum. This museum holds artistic treasures such as Baroque canvases, a mudejar ceiling, Roman funerary stelae, Visigothic architectural elements, and an altar made of Talavera tiles.
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Pool at Valera de Abajo
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dates & fees
Program Dates: 13-31 July
Fee: 2,900 U$D
Program Fees Include:
Full room and board (except lunch on full-day excursions)
Fieldwork training
Excursions and other activities
Transportation to and from airport on first and last days of the program (participants will be responsible for their transportation if arriving o leaving at a time not scheduled by ArchaeoSpain staff)
Medical Insurance
Application fee
Administrative costs
Certificate for 120 hours
Part of your fee will go toward the research project.
Fees DO NOT include airfare.
Fee: 2,900 U$D
Program Fees Include:
Full room and board (except lunch on full-day excursions)
Fieldwork training
Excursions and other activities
Transportation to and from airport on first and last days of the program (participants will be responsible for their transportation if arriving o leaving at a time not scheduled by ArchaeoSpain staff)
Medical Insurance
Application fee
Administrative costs
Certificate for 120 hours
Part of your fee will go toward the research project.
Fees DO NOT include airfare.
PAYMENT PROCESS:
To reserve a space, you must pay a $400 application deposit (included in the price of the program). The remainder of the program fee will be due as soon as the program is full, and you will be notified in advance. Application fees will be refunded if the applicant is not selected.
Application Deadline:
Rolling application. We accept applications until all spaces are filled.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
-Before March 1st: All payments, except $100 from the application deposit, are refundable.
-Between March 1st and April 1st: Application fee non-refundable. The remaining balance is refundable.
-After April 1st: All payments are non-refundable unless your application is rejected by the program director.
Medical Insurance:
All ArchaeoSpain participants are covered with an insurance packet that provides medical, surgical treatment, and prescription drugs in case of accident or sudden illness. With your program packet we will send you more details regarding this coverage, but you may contact our staff for more information.
European students should bring an EHIC card with them.
Travel Arrangements:
You should begin making travel arrangements as soon as you are notify of your selection, and you should complete them upon being notified of your selection. We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to cover all needs including medical, accident, baggage loss, delays and personal liability. ArchaeoSpain is not a travel provider nor is a registered travel agent. Your travel arrangements to and from Spain are subject to the terms and conditions of your travel agency. In the rare event that the program is cancelled, ArchaeoSpain will refund program fees, but is not responsible for non-refundable airline or other tickets or payments or any similar penalties that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation fees.
To reserve a space, you must pay a $400 application deposit (included in the price of the program). The remainder of the program fee will be due as soon as the program is full, and you will be notified in advance. Application fees will be refunded if the applicant is not selected.
Application Deadline:
Rolling application. We accept applications until all spaces are filled.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
-Before March 1st: All payments, except $100 from the application deposit, are refundable.
-Between March 1st and April 1st: Application fee non-refundable. The remaining balance is refundable.
-After April 1st: All payments are non-refundable unless your application is rejected by the program director.
Medical Insurance:
All ArchaeoSpain participants are covered with an insurance packet that provides medical, surgical treatment, and prescription drugs in case of accident or sudden illness. With your program packet we will send you more details regarding this coverage, but you may contact our staff for more information.
European students should bring an EHIC card with them.
Travel Arrangements:
You should begin making travel arrangements as soon as you are notify of your selection, and you should complete them upon being notified of your selection. We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to cover all needs including medical, accident, baggage loss, delays and personal liability. ArchaeoSpain is not a travel provider nor is a registered travel agent. Your travel arrangements to and from Spain are subject to the terms and conditions of your travel agency. In the rare event that the program is cancelled, ArchaeoSpain will refund program fees, but is not responsible for non-refundable airline or other tickets or payments or any similar penalties that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation fees.
Right of Refusal:
ArchaeoSpain reserves the right to refuse an applicant’s selection. This is a rare occurrence and is most likely due to a person’s inability to meet health requirements or in the interest of group compatibility. Once in the field, the program director and ArchaeoSpain reserve the right to send a participant away from the program should that person’s behavior compromise the safety, research objectives and general performance of the group, or violate Spanish laws, regulations, or customs.
the staff
SITE DIRECTORS
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Dionisio Urbina
Ph.D. from Madrid's Complutense University and co-director of ArchaeoSpain. Dionisio has been a professional archaeologist since 1990 and has directed over 50 archaeological excavations: Medieval, Late Antique, Roman, Iron and Bronze Age. He specializes in the Roman world and the Second Iron Age from central Iberia. Dionisio has published many scientific articles and books, and co-edited several conferences and exhibition catalogs. |
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Catalina Uquijo Álvarez de Toledo
Co-director of ArchaeoSpain, Catalina has been a professional archaeologist for over 25 years. She has led more than 20 archaeological excavations, from Bronze Age to Medieval times. She has taught numerous academic courses and organized archaeological exhibitions, and is the author of several books and numerous scientific articles. |
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As part of an ArchaeoSpain program, you agree to respect the archaeological sites and monuments in accordance with the laws of the country, and to accept the code of ethics that does not allow taking photographs of the archaeological sites or of the discoveries made in them. The publication of photographs related to the sites and their findings, especially on social media, always require prior approval from the directors of the archaeological sites.
excursions
We will visit Toledo, World Heritage City, known as the city of three cultures: Muslim, Christian, and Jewish. You will have the opportunity to visit the Cristo de la Luz mosque, the Tránsito synagogue, and the Toledo Cathedral. We’ll get lost in its narrow streets, have tapas at outdoor cafes, and make some time for shopping.
Cuenca, Built by the Moors as a defensive position in the heart of the Caliphate of Cordoba, Cuenca is an unusually well-preserved and fortified medieval city. Conquered by the Kindgom of Castilla in the 12th century, it became a royal town and bishopric endowed with important buildings, such as Spain's first Gothic cathedral and the famous casas colgadas (hanging houses), suspended from sheer cliffs overlooking the Huécar river. Cuenca towers above the magnificent countryside. The old city was designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. The Romanesque-Gothic cathedral (13th century) is a treasure, and we can visit the provincial archaeological and Spanish abstract art museums.
The Roman city of Segóbriga was the cultural, administrative, and mining center of a large area in the heart of Spain. Pliny the Elder called it “caput celtiberiae.” The city was founded by Julius
Caesar and, thanks to the wealth generated by the lapis specularis mines (sheets of transparent gypsum used to make windows), an ambitious program of public constructions began: a huge forum, the theater, amphitheater, baths, temples, and a circus maximus.
Caesar and, thanks to the wealth generated by the lapis specularis mines (sheets of transparent gypsum used to make windows), an ambitious program of public constructions began: a huge forum, the theater, amphitheater, baths, temples, and a circus maximus.
Gritos River and Pico de la Muela site
The Gritos river gorge was the natural access road to Valeria from the south-southeast. We will take a morning walk contemplating the rock cliffs of the canyon and end at the foot of the Pico de la Muela peninsula, an Iron Age site. In the afternoon we will enjoy the pool in Valera de Abajo.
PHOTO ARCHIVE |
