September 21 Open day at the archaeological site of Los Torrejones in Yecla

Visit this 2,000-year-old Roman villa in Yecla, one of 5 which were clustered together in the countryside

The 23rd edition of the Open Days season in Yecla continues on 21^st September with a visit to the site of Los Torrejones, where visitors can see for themselves the area in which this year’s dig was based on finding new details related to the Moorish baths dating from the 12^th and 13^th centuries.

Originally, there was a large Roman villa in Los Torrejones overseeing a sizeable agricultural concern some 2,000 years ago, and the area was inhabited on and off until the 13th century AD, when the Kingdom of Murcia was reconquered from the Moors by Christian forces.

It is one of five such villas found in an area of only 4 square kilometres (the others being El Pulpillo, Marisparza, Casa de la Ermita and Fuente del Pinar), indicating the degree to which the cultivation of grapes and olives in Yecla was important to the Romans: these “villas” dealt with the growing of crops and the production of wine and olive oil.

The first excavations date back to 1847 and the most significant discoveries include a 4th century mosaic found in 1957 and various stone pools which comprised a thermal bath complex. Fragments of ceramics, marble sculptures and columns have also been unearthed, and the Town Hall of Yecla has since acquired the land, protected it from the elements, made it possible to visit and housed the items of interest found in the local archaeological museum.

All five Roman villas were in charge of large areas of flat, fertile land. They underwent a crisis in the 3rd century, reached the height of their importance in the 4th century and survived for long periods of time. Alongside them are the remains of two more buildings which were used as inns, the “Casas de Almansa” and the “Casa de las Cebollas”.

The timetable of the open day is from 10.00 to 13.30, with groups of 25 people at most being filled on a first come first served basis. Visits begin at 30-minute intervals and further information and registration are available by telephone on 968 700901 (weekdays 9.30 to 13.00).

Further visits to other sites are being held on 14^th and 28^th September.

More visiting information is available from the tourist office of Yecla (email turismo@yecla.es) or, for more local events, news and visiting information in English, go to the home page of Yecla Today.