Albir open-air museum – the Roman Villa

Dive into the history of Albir and its rich Romans

Looking for a change for a day at the beach in Albir? Just a few hundred meters from the sea you will find an extraordinary archaeological site.

The Museo al Aire Libre Villa Romana de l’Albir shows how wealthy Romans used to live on the Costa Blanca.

At this open-air museum, you’ll walk past the remains of a luxury villa built more than 1,500 years ago.

In this article you will read all about the thermal baths, the vineyard and the mausoleum. But also about the possibility of using VR glasses to see the Roman Villa inside.

The entrance to the open-air museum, the Roman Villa in Albir.
The entrance to the open-air museum.

The thermal baths: the bathing ritual of the past

The centerpiece of the villa are the thermal baths. For the Romans, bathing was an important part of the day. It was not only for hygiene, but also a time to relax and socialize.

In the museum you can see the different rooms of the bathhouse:

  • Frigidarium: the room with cold water;

  • Tepidarium: the room with lukewarm water;

  • Caldarium: the hot water baths with an ingenious heating system.

The heating system worked with a wood furnace that heated the floor and water. You can still clearly see the foundations of this system from the landscaped walkways.

The model of the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: a model of the Roman Villa in Albir.

From vineyard to luxury residence

The history of this place goes back to the 2nd century AD. In the beginning, the villa was mainly a winery. Archaeologists found here remains of a wine cellar where grapes from the area were processed.

From the 4th century, the use changed. The owners turned it into a luxury residence. They expanded the baths and added a large dining hall(oecus) for parties and guests.

The villa was the heart of a small village where people lived by farming and fishing. In 1979, the site was accidentally discovered during construction work. Since 2011, it has officially been the first open-air museum of the Valencia region.

The indoor open-air museum, Villa Romana in Albir.
Pictured: the indoor open-air museum.
The ancient thermal baths at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: the ancient thermal baths at the Roman Villa.

Technology brings the past to life

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine what a pile of stones used to look like. The museum in Albir therefore uses handy tools. Through iPads and a special app, you can use Augmented Reality (AR).

When you point your screen at the ruins, you will see on your screen the villa as it used to be. There is also a short 360-degree movie available that you can watch with virtual reality glasses. That way you are suddenly in the middle of a Roman bathing ritual.

The VR experience at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: the VR experience.
The VR experience at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Pictured: the additional information signs.

The mausoleum of the family

A little further on, on Ruperto Chapí street, is the mausoleum. This is a tomb building where the villa’s important family was buried.

It is a rare building for this region. During excavations, archaeologists even found a burial amphora with the remains of a child here. You can view the mausoleum from the street side.

The logo of Strength and Balance
Showering and cleaning up after the thermal baths at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: showering/cleaning off to the thermal.

Practical information

Below are the details for your visit to the Roman villa.

Location:

The museum is located in the center of Albir, close to the dry riverbed.

Address: Av. de Oscar Esplá 1, 03581 l’Alfàs del Pi (Alicante)

Opening hours:

Period Days Times
Winter Tuesday to Friday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Summer (June through August). Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 12:00 & 19:00 – 22:00 hours

The museum is always closed on Mondays.

Admission fees:

Admission is free for individual visitors. For groups of 8 or more, reservations by e-mail are required.

Accessibility:

The entire park is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Wooden walkways have been constructed across the excavations.

More photos of the open-air museum

The opening hours of the open-air museum, the Roman Villa in Albir.
Image: the opening hours.
2,000 years ago: the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: 2,000 years back in time.
The ancient thermal baths at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: the ancient thermal baths.
The old mill at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Pictured: the old mill.
The research site at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Image: the research site.
The ancient cemetery at the Roman Villa in Albir, the open-air museum.
Pictured: the cemetery.

Question & answer (FAQ)

Gemiddeld duurt een bezoek ongeveer 45 tot 60 minuten.

Honden zijn in het museum niet toegestaan, behalve hulphonden.

Er is parkeergelegenheid in de omliggende straten van Albir, hoewel het in het hoogseizoen druk kan zijn.

Publication date:
21 January 2026

Publication date: 21 January 2026

Updated on:
6 February 2026

Updated on: 6 February 2026

Comments on this article:

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