Venture beneath La Seo Square to explore the Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta, home to the vestiges of Zaragoza’s ancient Roman forum. This was the hub of social, political, economic and religious life, a wide and open space surrounded by porticoes that led to temples and government buildings. Learn about the city’s formative years by studying remains that are more than 2,000 years old.
Begin your visit in the basement level and watch the audiovisual presentation on the history of the site. It covers the arrival of the Romans in the area and provides an insight into what visiting the forum would have been like in its heyday.
Browse display cabinets filled with Roman pottery. Look for the showcase exhibiting fragments of lead pipes that were used to carry water under the market area to the central fountain. Peek inside the large sewer that dates back to the 1st century. This carried waste away from the city and into the River Ebro. Observe the marks on the walls of the sewer, which were left by wooden planks during its construction.
Climb up to the next floor to view the principal archeological remains. These include the layout of two sewers, the foundations of forum porticoes and remnants of the market, which dates back to the 1st century. Among the other fascinating sights on this level are a reconstruction of a basement of a Roman shop and a model of the forum.
Located on the Plaza de la Seo in the center of the city, Museo del Foro de Caesaraugusta is well served by public transportation. Alternatively, drive and use the metered parking garage in the nearby Plaza del Pilar. The museum is open every day except Mondays and it has an entrance fee. Senior citizens and children under the age of 8 get in for free. All visitors can enjoy free access on the first Sunday of each month. Be sure to see La Seo Cathedral while you are on the plaza and the Caesaraugusta River Port Museum as well.
