The unknown Roman city of Zaragoza: it had 2,500 inhabitants, an aqueduct and luxurious thermal baths

Just a few kilometres from Zaragoza , located in the picturesque municipality of Uncastillo, lies a piece of Ancient Rome. This is the Roman site of Los Bañales, a fascinating place that preserves some of the most impressive structures of the time, such as its aqueduct and thermal baths, offering a unique experience for those who wish to immerse themselves in the splendour of ancient Rome.

Imagine walking along the same paths that the Romans used to walk, seeing how the water flowed through the aqueduct carved into the rock and immersing yourself in the luxurious thermal baths where the citizens of the time relaxed. This archaeological site, just a stone’s throw from the legendary Via Augusta, not only offers a trip to ancient Rome, but also a unique opportunity to discover the best-kept secrets of Roman engineering and lifestyle in Hispania.

LOS BAÑALES, THE ROMAN CITY OF ZARAGOZA WITH AQUEDUCT AND THERMAL BATHS

One of the main attractions of Los Bañales is its aqueduct, built at the end of the 1st century BC by the Legio IV Macedónica. It is considered unique in the Roman world, as a large part of its route is dug directly into the rock, making it a structure that blends in perfectly with the landscape. The channel carved into the rock, known as specus, guaranteed the water supply to the city, overcoming differences in level of up to 50 metres using stone pillars. Today, 32 of the 70 original pillars remain, a sign of the great ingenuity of Roman engineers.

The hydraulic system began at the nearby Puy Foradado dam and extended to Los Bañales, passing through various sections of canals and bridges. In addition, a Roman dam has been identified in Cubalmena, capable of storing up to 30,000 square metres of water, which ensured a constant supply of water to the city. A city that came to have up to 2,500 inhabitants . This impressive infrastructure reflects not only the importance of water in Roman life, but also the high level of development of the cities of Roman Hispania.

THE LEGEND OF THE AQUEDUCT AND THE PACT WITH THE DEVIL

The legend of the Los Bañales aqueduct, like other popular stories about ancient monuments, is steeped in mystery and magic. It tells of a young woman, tired of travelling long distances to get water, who made a pact with the devil. In exchange for her soul, the devil promised to build an aqueduct that would bring water directly to the city before dawn. However, the young woman came up with a clever plan to save her soul: when the devil was about to finish the work, he managed to make a rooster crow prematurely, as if it had already dawned.

The devil, believing that he had not fulfilled his agreement, abandoned the unfinished construction and fled, leaving the aqueduct half-finished and the young woman free from her fate. Thus, the young woman’s cunning allowed the aqueduct to remain as a vestige of legend, unfinished and surrounded by mystery.

WHAT THE THERMAL BATHS OF BAÑALES WERE LIKE

Another of the highlights of Los Bañales are its Roman baths, which offer a complete insight into Roman hygiene and leisure habits. The baths were much more than just bathing facilities; they were the social centre of the city, where citizens gathered to chat, do business and relax . These baths had a sophisticated layout that included cold, warm and hot bath rooms, following the typical design of the large Roman baths.

These luxurious thermal baths are a testament to the refined lifestyle that the Romans brought to Hispania, where hygiene and well-being were essential to urban culture. The existence of the thermal baths in Los Bañales indicates that it was not a simple rural settlement, but a developed city with a complex and advanced infrastructure system.

A ROMAN SITE YET TO BE DISCOVERED

The Los Bañales site remains a fascinating place for archaeologists and visitors interested in Roman history. The “Rome in the Five Villas: Los Bañales” Interpretation Centre, located in the town of Layana, offers a complete exhibition of archaeological pieces that illustrate daily life in Hispania during the Roman era. Here you can see objects, statues, pottery and other artefacts that show the daily life of the ancient inhabitants of Los Bañales.

Exploring Los Bañales is like travelling back in time, to a city that, although small compared to others of the time, was a clear example of the splendour of Roman culture in Hispania. From its impressive thermal baths to its unique Roman aqueduct, the site is palpable proof of the advanced engineering and urban planning that characterised the Romans on the peninsula.