Centro de Interpretación de Caldoval

About the museum

The Caldoval baths were part of a Roman maritime villa (villa a mare) beside the Santa Lucía inlet in Mugardos, in use between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. The first structures appeared in 1997 on land belonging to a gas company; an excavation carried out in 2001 confirmed that this was a site of great importance, probably a 1st-century villa with domestic baths.

Archaeological work resumed between August 2004 and April 2005. In that phase the bath structures were moved; they were covered and stored while awaiting a museum. In 2014 the Concello de Mugardos, the Xunta de Galicia and the company owning the land awarded the contract for the interpretation centre. Over about six months more than 12,500 wall pieces were dismantled and labelled, and were then reassembled in their original positions; the cold-water tank, very well preserved, was moved whole inside a formwork.

The building, designed by the studio of Alfonso Penela, has the form of a mausoleum. A spiral ramp descends to the space where the remains are displayed, at the sea level the villa had, and a parabolic walkway surrounds the site so it can be seen from different heights. According to the centre itself, it is the only private bath with palaestra known so far in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula.

The exhibition brings together original materials and reproductions of utensils, clothing, games, balls and ceramic tableware, along with large audiovisuals on everyday life and the use of the baths, and a panoramic mural painting of the Ferrol estuary in Roman times.

Highlights

• Private Roman bath with palaestra, the only one known in the north-west of the Peninsula
• Thermal circuit with frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium with hypocaust
• Cold-water tank (alveus) lined with opus signinum, moved whole
• Panoramic walkway around the site
• Mural painting of the Ferrol estuary in Roman times

Permanent exhibition

• Exposición del yacimiento romano de Caldoval – Roman baths of a maritime villa, with an exhibition room, audiovisuals on everyday life and the use of the baths, and reconstructions of objects of the period.

Founded

2017

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission. Guided tours are also free, but require advance booking.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The route descends by a spiral ramp to the site. The website gives no further accessibility details; for enquiries, write to info@museocaldoval.gal or call +34 687 072 116.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Guided tours and workshops for groups and families on how the baths worked, clothing, leisure and sport, and the board and dice games of the Romans.

Getting there & parking

By car, about 20 minutes from Ferrol, 40 from A Coruña and 1 hour from Santiago de Compostela. GPS coordinates: 43°27′28.6″ N 8°15′34.8″ W.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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