The site is located in the borough of San Roque, in the middle of the Bay of Algeciras. It is situated at a perfect place from both a strategic point of view, as well as its proximity to commercial routes from the Mare Nostrum (Mediterranean Sea) to the unknown Mare Tenebrosum (Atlantic Ocean). The inlet allowed fleets to shelter from storms. Nowadays we can discover the remains of a significant city which acquired a great deal of prominence during several periods of ancient history, especially during the time of Roman supremacy.

Dating back to 700 and 600 B.C., we can find remains of what was originally a Phoenician settlement, close to the Guadarranque river mouth, located on a low-lying hill known as Meadow Hill (Cerro del Prado).

In 400 B.C. the heirs of the Phoenician trade empire, the Carthaginians (also known as the Punics) made their presence felt in the area. They decided to relocate the city, which was very well-situated to control the movement of ships through the Straits of Gibraltar and along the coastline, at a spot where the facilities could be extended. It was really the Carthaginians who finally developed the city of Carteya that we can admire today. Nevertheless, the name Carteya deriving from the Phoenician root qart, reminds us of its origin.

Shortly after, a confrontation arose between the Carthaginians and the Romans. The Punic Wars ended with Roman domination over a vast territory during the Imperial Period. The Roman Empire would become one of the greatest milestones of civilization in the history of mankind.

Despite the fact that Carteya was a Punic city, the people offered very little resistance to Roman control. Once the Romans had evaluated the enclave’s potential, they fully back its development. They built a 30-hectare walled site and erected all the basic amenities a Roman city of its surface area would have.

Undoubtedly, Carteya is a city where the mixture of Phoenician, Punic and Roman elements can be found.  It was precisely the half-Roman population who demanded a solution from the Senate with regards to legalizing their lack of citizenship status. This was due to the fact that Rome did not recognize marriages between Roman citizens and locals, or their common offspring. In 171 B.C. the city of Carteya received real recognition when it is chosen by Rome to be granted the title of Colonia Libertinorum Carteia. Carteya became the first Roman colony outside present-day Italy, even before Pompeii.

The city acquired prominence in the civil war at the end of the Republican period through the support the local elite gave to Pompey the Great’s side. Pompey’s sons, Sextus and Cnaeus sought refuge in Carteya and reorganized themselves from there.

Despite the fact Carteya played a relevant role during the early period of Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, the city was also used as a commercial and military enclave by other people and cultures during other periods. The site was inhabited during the Late Ancient Period and at the beginning of the Middle Ages. Proof of this can be found at the necropolis from the Visigoth period, situated by the Roman temple and remains which prove a Byzantine presence. It would have been a bold attempt in this region to recover the Western Roman Empire, initiated by Justinian.

A small military enclosure maintained the name, and was located at the highest point within the site, a few metres away from the Roman walls, which were used to supply building material. This fortification, which is known today as Cartagena Tower, was the location of clashes between Christian and Muslim troops from the 13th century onwards. Merini forces intervened, after they had settled at neighbouring Algeciras and supported the Nazari kingdom of Granada.

However, the city became an abandoned site where the notable buildings were in ruins. This feeling of defencelessness had been stated by the majority of investigators, scholars and travellers over the centuries. It was not until the late sixties when the site was threatened by the modern-day industry installed nearby that the urban perimeter of Carteya was secured. Unfortunately, the same thing did not happen with its necropolis, the gates, the fishing industry, etc. which shaped its territory.

During the visit we can admire the Carthaginian period access gate, the entrance to the old city area, which was possibly the forum reached by means of a monumental sand stone flight of stairs. There are remains of a large temple and its original ornamental masonry, several domus (Roman villas) and extensive and intact Roman baths. The remains of the city walls and Rocadillo Tower, a 16th century watchtower can also be observed. We can also wander round the remains of streets, the city’s topography and the extent of its surface area. The city had an Augustan period theatre, although it is currently off the visitor’s circuit. A guide will take you around the site giving you a detailed historical and artistic explanation of Carteya. Guided tours are available in English and Spanish. The tour lasts approximately 50 minutes.

Due to the fact that Carteya was inhabited by different civilizations which left their mark on the area and make up the cultural heritage of this place we call Andalusia, we recommend you pay a visit to the Carteya Archaeological Museum in the Governor’s Palace in San Roque, only 5 kilometres from the site. In this way, you will get a full picture of its historical background and every day life at different periods in its ancient history.

Useful information:

To get to Carteya, leave the A-7 dual-carriageway, junction 115 and follow the signs indicating the village of Guadarranque and Carteya.

Contact details:

Tel: 956 670 122 – 956 670 123 – 956 670 124

Fax: 956 670 125

E-mail: cacarteia.ca.ccul.@juntadeandalucia.es

Web site: www.sanroque.es/turismo/carteia

Business Hours: from 10.00 a.m. until 2.00 p.m. (the last guided tour starts at two o’clock in the afternoon). The site is open to the public from Wednesday until Sunday (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), from 10.00 a.m. until 3.00 p.m. Guided tours are free of charge.