Espacio de Protección Arqueológica Portus Illicitanus

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If you are passionate about Roman history and wondering what to see in Santa Pola, Portus Ilicitanus is a must-see.

Portus Ilicitanus Santa Pola, in Santa Pola, the Sea Museum's outdoor site, is an Archaeological Protection Area that can only be visited by appointment and accompanied by a specialised guide. Here, the remains of this ancient, 1st-century AD Roman port city tell us of a fascinating settlement, thriving in Mediterranean trade and in the production of the famous “garum” sauce.

Among the preserved remains are warehouses, a salting factory, a necropolis and, above all, the Roman House of Portus Ilicitanus. This is a luxurious 4th-century mansion boasting a large peristyle courtyard, seven rooms decorated with polychrome mosaics and wall paintings, and spaces for domestic worship, especially to Venus, protector of sailors.

Visiting this site is like opening a window onto the past and discovering what life was like for the Roman elite by the sea. Marble, alabaster and the light from oil lamps restore the splendor of one of Alicante province's best-kept historical secrets.