Roman Villa de las Torres, Estepona

Roman Villa de las Torres © Julian Romero
Roman Villa de las Torres © Julian Romero

Villa Romana de Las Torres

Villa Romana de las Torres is located on the searfront beside the Torre Guadalmansa watchtower in the east of Estepona municipality. Excavations were carried out on the site in 1915-16 and again 1929José Martinez Oppelt concluded the site had been a termas, or bath house.

The building had been richly ornamented with geometrical mosaics and marble columns. Five excellent mosaics were found and recorded at the time. Other items discovered included the shaft of a marble spiral column and adjoining building materials, as well as pottery and a small bronze bust of a woman.

Approximately 18 buildings were ultimately discovered, three of which had underground water deposits. The site was certainly wealthy, as coins, anchors, bronze and iron keys; clay vessels and brass needles were also unearthed.

The site, which became known as Las Torres, uncovered coins that ranged from the era of the Emperor Vespasian (69-79) to that of Maximus (235-238).

Initially, the mosaics were left in situ, but by the time that Archeologist José Perez Barradas Pérez came to carry out the second set of excavations in 1929 whilst working nearby at La Basilica de Vega del Mar, he found the site in a pitiful state. Shocked by what he saw, he ordered their removal to prevent their inevitable destruction by thieves and vandals.

Peréz de Barradas unearthed a great many more items of interest: yellow and black ceramic pots, pieces of glass and crystal, more coins, a lamp and intriguingly, a large bronze bust of Gordian II. Since Gordian II was Emperor for only three weeks in 238 and even then only jointly with his father, Gordian I, the making of the price can be dated with some confidence to that year.

The extent and variety of Pérez de Barradas finds revised the original opinion that the site was merely a termas. Barradas concluded that it was an extensive complex, perhaps even a small town, dedicated to, or certainly made wealthy by, the manufacture of garum, the much prized and ever popular fish paste. Since this was made from the intestines of fish macerated in vinegar, we may wonder today at its universal popularity in all parts of the Roman Empire. 

What is visible today

The entire seafront site area has been grassed and landscaped and makes for a pleasant stroll. One can thank the Romans since without their villa complex this front line site would now be appartments rathere than landscaped. A small part of the excavation was cleaned and rensed and prepared for viewing by way of a rustic wooden overbridge in 2005. The weathering since then means the it is now dificult to observe much more than a few foundation walls in a muddy hole.

The open excavation is located next to Torre Guadalmansa, one of the chain of watchtowers in Estepona. In common with the majority of such towers, its one entrance is high up on its side and the only method of entrance and exit would have been by ladder or rope. Most of the towers along the coast are mediaeval and post-date the Christian reconquest. In 1575 King Filipe II ordered a major reconstruction programme including the construction of 12 forts. This may be true of Torre de Guadalmansa, but it is unusual in that it is square in plan rather than round, which suggests it to be Moorish.

An interpretation and exhibition centre called Centro de Interpretación de la Villa Romana de Las Torres located nearby facing onto the coastal promenade. Unfortunately the centre was closed soon after it was inaugurated and un-aired damp quickly aged the display panels.  It can be opened for visits by groups of five or over. Fee is 3€ per person. Visits may be arranged simply by calling Tel: 654 71 17 15.  

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