Estepona Archaeological Museum

About

Quick facts: The museum sits inside a restored 17th-century building that once served as a hospital, and its underground galleries reveal layers of Roman, Phoenician, and Moorish history unearthed during urban excavations. Over 2,000 artifacts are on display, including a remarkably preserved Roman mosaic floor that visitors can walk over via a glass walkway.

Highlights: Beneath the modern glass floor lie actual Roman ruins, including a thermal bath complex with intact hypocaust heating channels, so you are literally standing on 2,000 years of history while you tour. The star piece is a 3rd-century AD mosaic depicting the god Oceanus, its tiles still vibrant enough to trace the curls of his beard and the scales of his sea creatures.

Insider tips

• Wear flat, comfortable shoes because the glass walkways over the ruins require walking carefully on the transparent panels.
• Head to the back corner of the main hall around mid-morning, the sunlight through the old arched windows makes the mosaic colors pop for photos.
• Skip the audio guide if you are short on time, the wall panels are detailed and the staff are happy to answer questions in English.
• Combine your visit with the adjacent botanical garden across the street, it is free and makes a pleasant pairing.

More attractions in Estepona

Estepona Marina

Orchidarium Estepona

Plaza de las Flores

Selwo Aventura