Cuenca and the Footprints of Romanisation Valeria, Segóbriga and Ercávica Mosaic Villa De Noheda
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Cuenca and the Footprints of Romanisation Valeria, Segóbriga and Ercávica Mosaic Villa de Noheda During the course of this route, the traveller can enjoy the lands conquered from the year 179 B.C. by Tiberius Gracchus and observe the layout of their roads and cities as well as get to know the epicentre of the best specularis lapis producer in the Ro- man Empire. Urbanism Ercávica, named a Historical Site in 1978, is the greatest example of the Romaniza- Roman road Pozoamargo tion process of inland Hispania. This is due to the urban development of the city du- ring the reign of Augustus who sought municipal status for the city while at the same time minting his own currency. The Roman city of Valeria was declared a Cultural Interest Site in 1977. Located in a beautiful natural setting next to the gorge of the Gritos River, it was an important Roman centre as it was connected by secondary routes to the road from Complutum to Cartagonova, as well as Ercávica and Segobriga. The Roman city “par excellence” in the province of Cuenca is Segobriga (Saelices). It has become one of the most significant archaeological sites from Roman times in southern Europe. It boasts a Roman theatre which is kept alive today with different representations and retains an amphitheatre with a capacity for more than 5,000 Lapis specularis of Torrejoncillo spectators. Other recovered items include the old Forum, the baths, some wall pain- tings and an imperial temple. Outside of the city there is evidence of a circus, as well as a temple dedicated to the goddess Diana, an aqueduct and quarries. Roman infrastructure Cuenca was an area crossed by many Roman roads that linked the centre of the peninsula with areas such as Sagunto, Caesar Augusta, and Cartago Nova. Near Pozoamargo there is an important crossroads where Notable examples of these authentic Roman “motorways” have been preserved. The main roads were those that linked Segontia to Ercávica and Complutum to Cartagonova and the secondary roads Roman deposit of Valeria which connected the major Roman cities of the province. The most valuable goods of the Empire (speculum, oil, wine, grain crops) were transported on these roads along which there were milestones to measure their lengths in Roman miles (about 1,480 metres). Economically, one of the main activities developed by Rome was mining. It was Pliny the Elder who wrote that the lapis specularis mines were in Nearer Hispa- nia, more specifically “one hundred thousand steps around the city of Segobriga.” A high quality “speculum” was extracted from these mines, which when cut into thin transparent sheets, was used for windows. There are many well-known mines al- Ercávica though Pozolacueva in Torralba, the Mora Encantada in Torrejoncillo and the Saceda River mine stand out the most. Iron was also capital for Rome and was extracted from mines such as Cueva del Hierro. Other Unique Elements The Mausoleum of Llanes, of Early Christian origin and declared Cultural Interest Site, has three semi-circular apses, a crypt with a Greek cross floor and a baptistery. The Roman town of Noheda is home to the largest triclinium of the Roman Empire (300 m2). It features a perfectly preserved fourth century mosaic, whose size, style and narrative quality stand out, as it reflects a multitude of geometric shapes, decorative Roman theater Segóbriga garlands and lotus flowers. It will shortly be curated so that everyone can enjoy one of the most unique mosaics of the Iberian peninsula. Mausoleum of Llanes .