Empúries, Ampurias in Spanish, is one of the most important archaeological sites on the Iberian peninsula. It lies on the Costa Brava, in Catalonia, in the municipality of L'Escala, at the end of the Gulf of Roses, where the ruins run down to a golden-sand beach.
History
Around 575 BC Greek settlers from Phocaea, who had already founded Marseille, set up a trading post here, Emporion, "the market", which gave it its name. It was the only true Greek colony on the peninsula along with Rhode, today's Roses. In 218 BC the Romans of Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio landed here at the start of the Second Punic War, beginning the Roman conquest of Spain. A Roman city grew next to the Greek one and flourished until the 3rd century AD. Some of the finest evidence of ancient art in Spain is here.
What to see
- The Greek Neapolis, with the remains of the temples of Asclepius and Serapis, the agora, cisterns, houses and mosaics; the copy of the statue of Asclepius, god of medicine, is the site's symbol.
- The Roman city, higher up, with the forum, houses with mosaics, the amphitheatre and the walls.
- The Empúries museum, part of the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia, with finds from the excavations.
- The seaside walk to the village of Sant Martí d'Empúries, the old nucleus, with its square, church and restaurants.
L'Escala
The town of L'Escala, with about 10,000 inhabitants, is a fishing village famous for its anchovies, salted by hand according to a centuries-old tradition and protected by a geographical indication. It has a fine harbour, beaches and rocky coves, and a museum devoted to anchovies and salt. In September it celebrates the Festa de la Sal.
Around and getting there
The Aiguamolls de l'Empordà natural park, the towns of Figueres and Roses, Cadaqués and the medieval village of Peratallada. Girona airport is about 60 km away; from Barcelona it is about an hour and a half by car.