Roman Necropolis of Carmona

About Roman Necropolis of Carmona

The necropolis lies on the western edge of Carmona, 1 km below the Puerta de Sevilla. Burials began with Tartessian monuments of the 7th century BC, but most visible tombs are family chambers cut into the rock in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Excavated in the late 19th century by Juan Fernández López and George Bonsor, it was Spain's first archaeological site opened to visitors and covers about eight hectares.

Paths lead among cremation pits and chambers reached by stepped shafts, with niches for urns. The Tomb of Servilia, from the age of Augustus, copies a Hellenistic house with a porticoed courtyard, and the Elephant Tomb, named after a stone elephant found inside, was a sanctuary to Cybele and Attis. A museum shows grave goods, and its terrace overlooks the Roman amphitheatre opposite.

Entry is free for EU citizens and €1.50 for other visitors, with no need to book. Allow about 1.5 hours. Ground is uneven and some tombs are reached down steep steps, so wheelchairs and pushchairs keep to the main paths. Older children usually love the tombs; watch younger ones near open shafts. The old town is a 15-minute walk uphill.

Autumn and winter hours are Tuesday to Saturday 09:00–18:00 and Sundays 09:00–15:00; from 21 June to 20 September it closes at 15:00, and it is shut on Mondays. There is little shade: come in the morning.

Roman Necropolis of Carmona in pictures

What you’ll find

• Archaeological siteRuins visit (Free–€2, 09:00–18:00)Ticket
• ExhibitionExhibition visit (Free–€2, 09:00–18:00)Ticket
• Free entryFree visit (09:00–18:00)Free

Nearby places to visit

The Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla, Carmona (950 m), the fortified western gate of the old town, is a short walk uphill and houses the tourist office. Inside the walls are the Priory Church of Santa María and the Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro. On the road back to Seville, the Castillo de Alcalá de Guadaíra (23 km) crowns a hill above the Guadaíra river, and the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla (27 km) is close by. In Seville, the Archaeological Museum of Seville (32 km) holds further Roman finds from the province.