Archaeological tourism: Roman legacy in the villas of Palencia
8 October, 2025The sites of La Olmeda and La Tejada, in the province of Palencia, have established themselves as benchmarks for Roman tourism in Spain thanks to their uniqueness, conservation and wealth of monuments. The two sites, separated by just 30 kilometres, offer visitors a glimpse into the life and splendour of the imperial era.
La Olmeda, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and with around 50,000 visitors a year, is a 4,400 m² villa and 35 rooms organised around a central courtyard. Its 1,450 m² of mosaics stand out, including one of the best preserved in the Peninsula, which depicts Achilles discovered by Ulysses alongside hunting scenes.
For its part, La Tejada, also an Asset of Cultural Interest and near the Camino de Santiago, surprises us with the quality of its mosaics and its hypocaust heating system, reflecting the period’s domestic luxury.
The Provincial Council of Palencia is promoting a €5 million revitalisation plan, with the support of European funds, to reinforce its role as a first class heritage and tourist destination and to project the Roman footprint of the province on an international scale.