Secrets of Toledo: Amador de los Ríos Square

Discovered last February in a private residence, six meters beneath Amador de los Ríos Square in Toledo hides an underground gallery of Roman origin that was part of the city's public Roman baths. This refurbished space, usually closed to the public, will open its doors for the first time on Friday, July 14, through the open house event 'Unknown Heritage,' organized by the Consortium of the City of Toledo to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the city's declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It is believed that this gallery or cryptopórtico housed the heating chambers of the ancient baths, and here, in addition to traces of the various rooms it heated, there will be a marble statue found during the excavations, which is a male torso dating from the 1st to the 4th century AD. Visitors will also see a vaulted cross gallery that served as a service gallery to supply the fires or ovens of the baths. This gallery is referred to as a cryptopórtico of opus caementicium (a type of Roman concrete) and opus quadratum (hewn stone blocks). This heating system is called hypocaust heating and was invented by Caius Sergio Orata (1st century BC) and perfected in the late 1st century AD.

Over the centuries, the site where the baths and this gallery were located was built over, first during the Middle Ages and later with the current structures. This is why the surroundings feature different cultural stages of Toledo that overlap one another.

The Roman gallery of Amador de los Ríos will be open for free visits on Friday, July 14, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, on a first-come, first-served basis and in groups of seven people, including the guide. Additionally, it will be necessary to collect a ticket at the access door to the space in Amador de los Ríos Square. Furthermore, the Consortium is holding a raffle for two passes to personally view the Roman torso alongside experts authorized by Heritage. To enter, participants must name at least three locations with Roman remains that can be visited on the Consortium of Toledo's unknown heritage routes through a private message on their Facebook profile. This recognition will take place on Saturday at 9:30 AM, and the winners will be announced on Thursday at 2:00 PM.

On the other hand, visitors will have to follow a series of safety rules since the space is still under construction. Therefore, it will be necessary, in addition to identification via an ID or passport, to wear appropriate clothing consisting of comfortable clothes and closed-toe, non-slip shoes; high heels and open-toe shoes will not be allowed. It will also be mandatory to wear a helmet. Additionally, visitors cannot leave the route without a guide or stray from the designated path. Lastly, minors must be accompanied by an adult.