The Roman Villa of La Olmeda: A Treasure of Multicolored Mosaics and Imperial Luxury Hidden in the Land of Hispania
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The Roman Villa of La Olmeda is one of the most relevant late antique archaeological complexes in the Iberian Peninsula. Located next to the Ucieza River, it features exceptionally well-preserved polychrome mosaic floors that transport us to the splendor of a stately villa between the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
Where is it located?
The villa is in the municipality of Pedrosa de la Vega, about 10 km from Saldaña, in the province of Palencia (Castile and León). An interpretation center next to the site facilitates visits and contextualizes the findings.
What is its origin and history?
Probably founded in the 1st century AD as a large estate, it reached its peak during the Late Roman Empire. At that time, it expanded with luxurious residential and thermal spaces. From the 6th century onward, the villa lost functionality and was abandoned, remaining buried until its rediscovery in 1968.
Notable features
- Oecus mosaic: polychrome, with geometric motifs and mythological scenes in the reception room.
- Peristyle and inner garden: surrounded by columns, with an opus sectile pavement simulating marble tiles.
- Private baths: including caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium equipped with hydraulic concrete and hypocaust system.
- Triclinium: a stately dining room with mosaics of vegetal motifs and hunting scenes.
- Productive area: ceramic deposits, wine presses, and saltworks linked to the economy of wine and oil.
How to visit?
The site is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with guided tours and educational workshops available. The route combines walkways over the mosaics and explanatory panels. The interpretation center shows 3D reproductions, found objects (ceramics, coins, tools), and audiovisuals about life in the villa.
What else to see nearby?
- Saldaña: urban center with the Palencia museum and access to hiking routes.
- San Juan Church: Romanesque church in Villanueva de la Torre, a few kilometers away.
- Romanesque Route: set of medieval churches and monasteries in the region.
In short, the Roman Villa of La Olmeda offers an impressive testimony of rural life of the Roman elite in Hispania, where the extraordinary mosaics and architectural organization reveal the refinement and technical ability of that ancient world.
How to get there
Decimal: 42.481667°, -4.736389°
DMS: 42°28'54" N, 4°44'11" O
