Museo Universitario A Domus do Mitreo

About the museum

In 1998 the University of Santiago de Compostela decided to install the Vice-Rectorate of the Lugo Campus on the site of the former Pazo de Montenegro, in the heart of the old town, next to the cathedral and the Roman wall. The archaeological control carried out before the works documented Roman remains that forced changes to the project and gave rise to several campaigns between 2000 and 2007. Across some 600 m², a large part of a Roman domus, a private Mithraeum and the base of the wall came to light.

The structure of the domus dates from the High Empire (the 2nd century and the early 3rd). It was a luxury two-storey house, with rooms such as the culina (kitchen), the cubiculum (bedroom), the oecus (main reception room) and the peristyle (courtyard with a colonnade), a hydraulic system and a roof protected from damp according to the principles of Vitruvius. At the beginning of the 3rd century the house was remodelled and, around the years 212–218, a temple of Mithras was built on the upper floor, which remained in use until 350. At the end of the 3rd century the wall cut through the house and partly destroyed it.

The museum lies seven metres below the present city level: below, the excavation is visited, and on the first floor the evolution of the site up to the present day is explained, with materials from the Roman period to the 20th century. The altar dedicated to Mithras by a centurion is preserved in its original place, and this is the only point in Lugo where the city wall can be seen down to its foundations.

Highlights

• Luxury Roman domus with an oecus, cubiculum, culina and peristyle
• Mithraeum with a votive altar preserved in its original place
• Roman city wall seen down to its foundations, seven metres below the current ground
• Reconstruction of the main room's roof according to the principles of Vitruvius
• Highlights such as a marble mortar and an engraved gem

Permanent exhibitions

• Yacimiento: domus, mitreo y muralla romana – Underground tour of the excavation, with the rooms of the domus, the Mithraeum with its votive altar and the wall seen down to its foundations.
• Primera planta: evolución del solar – Explanation of the evolution of the site up to the present day, with selected materials from the Roman period to the 20th century.

Operated by

Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Wednesday of each month; 18 April (International Day for Monuments and Sites); 18 May (International Museum Day).

The admission prices apply to the visit without a guide.

Accessibility

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

The building has no physical barriers: the domus is reached by a platform on the entrance staircase, the first floor is reached by lift, and there are adapted toilets. For blind visitors there is a Braille leaflet, the altar in relief and a table with reproductions of four pieces to touch. Leaflets, touch screens and videos are in Galician, Spanish and English.

Kids & families

There are workshops and educational resources for schools, and up to two free tickets for minors are obtained with each standard ticket.

Getting there & parking

The museum is part of the complex of the Vice-Rectorate of the Lugo Campus, within the historic enclosure, opposite the cathedral.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

The museum has no bar or café; there are numerous eateries nearby (calle de la Cruz, Plaza del Campo, Rúa Nova).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit