One of the best—and least known—museums in Valencia. Inside the lobby you will see a scale relief model of the remains of the ancient Roman city of Valencia, known then as Valentia Edetanorum, hanging on the wall.

Valencia was founded by the Romans in 138. The museum exhibits explore the city’s origins and architectural elements of different periods including the Visigoths and the Islamic fort. The fun comes when you walk downstairs and enter the ruins. You walk amongst them knowing that these were the same paths that the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors walked. 

The space is lit by through a large skylight that is covered by water; if you catch it right, the shadows from the water play off of the shell-like mosaic tile floor of the dig. It is whimsical and fantastical. The museum was designed by the Spanish architect José Maria Herrera Garcia, and its transparent design is meant to connect the modern and ancient elements of the city together. Artifacts on display include jewelry, pottery, and clothing. There are also video installations exploring 2,000 years of the city’s history.