This is one of the best finds on a long trip through Spain. The museum is small but provides superb detail and videos in Spanish and English. The real stuff is outside. Hopefully the weather will be good when you go. On a clear day, you should be able to see the African coastline. The site is well laid out with small but complete signage that explains what you are looking at. You can get very close to most things. If you are from the EU and have your passport, it's free. For the rest of you, it's really cheap, like 2 eur. It's fantastic and we highly recommend it.
A visit here was more than rewarding. Situated at one of the prettiest sandy beaches on the southern Atlantic Coast of Spanish. Beaches here are unlike the Mediterranean - golden sand, waves and cleaner water.The roman ruins are well presented and details are generally in English although some are not. In any case the pictures and the ruins make it easy to understand. the preservation has been extremely well done and the visitor is well catered for using raised paths at times to protect further damage.We spent a few hours there and then had a good meal at a restaurant on this magnificent beach. Continuing along the road from the Museum will take you up a steep slope where some magnificent views (including Africa on a nice day) can be viewed.There is also a sand hill at the end of the beach where there seemed to be sand hill riding but we didn;t walk down that farwe had booked in another town a few kilometers north and were sorry we hadn't stayed here - it is truly a beautiful place
I have visited several Roman sites in Greece and Turkey, but this one is better than most. The museum exhibit prepares the reader for what will be seen on the site. Baelo Claudia,located in Bolonia Bay is breathtaking. We made it into a whole day excursion by bringing our bathing suits, eating lunch in the local restaurants, and hiking up the Duna de Bolonia, a sand dune that offers fantastic views of the whole bay and surrounding pine forest. At this time, most of the museum is bilingual (Spanish/English) inside and out. The ocean swimming was fantastic as well, and probably enticing for families with small children. There is a 1.50 Euro fee applicable to non-EU residents.
A really well landscaped and informative site, and an example of how to present architectural remains in a mature and adult way. None of the irritating child-friendly and popularising additions that the UK's English Heritage and National Trust now feel is essential. The museum is adequate and could perhaps do with some updating; a history of the site's excavation in the 20th century would be interesting (if you visit the restaurant just on the other side of the beach-side fence it has photographs of the site before it was fully uncovered). It was worthwhile to do a virtual visit of the site with the aid of the leaflet and the model in the museum before actually walking the site itself. Note that Baelo Claudia is not signposted from the main Tarifa-Cadiz road; we missed it and drove miles in the wrong direction. You need to follow the sign to Bolonia from the main road.
The ruins are literally right next to the beach and in excellent condition. The museum is definitely worth visiting. However, for any Gibraltarians visiting (like myself), brace yourselves for the unprofessional woman at the ticket office who churns out 'Gibraltar Espanol' to your face.
One of the very best Roman sites we have ever visited. Visit museum first, then ruins, then beach. Post signing also in English. Very affordable entry fee. 3 euros, maybe? Very clean and well cared for site including restrooms. Easy to imagine life here in another time.
The welcome was friendly and admission good value (0 euros if you have an EU id). The site is large but with a route planned out with regularly placed notices and informative plaques. The excavations / remains are well worth seeing. Nice gift shop too.
I had one of the most beautiful afternoons & evenings of my life on our stop at Baelo Claudia.the beach was nice, the sand was great. and to sit in the chiringuito and watch te beautiful sunset in that nice environment was just heart warming.We had been there in September 2013. The exhibition was closed as we were there (If I remember correctly we arrived at 4 pm). But I loved the beach. That day is still so present in my memory as just beautiful, that I thought to write a review even 1,5 half years later.
Baelo Claudia is a great city that lived for 500 years. Fantastic location without newer buildings. A great place to visit. All information in both Spanish and English.
Try to pick a warm day when you visit. The museum is fine, but the village is outside exposed to the ellements. It is a very moving experience walking around a village from 1st century AD. The remains are well preserved and restored. If you take ID then entrance is free to EU visitors.