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Archaeological Deposits of Finca del Secretario

Diputación de Málaga
ETAPA 33-finca secretario 038

Archaeological Deposits of Finca del Secretario

Avda. Nuestro Padre Jesús Cautivo
Zip Code 29640
Monuments and Art > Remarkable Building

This remarkable Roman villa integrates an urban and an industrial area. It was established in the mid-1st century CE and persisted until the 5th century CE. Its well-preserved thermal bathing complex boasts decorative floral motifs on walls and floors, and its paintings are on display at the Museum of Málaga.

This remarkable Roman villa integrates an urban and an industrial area. It was established in the mid-1st century CE and persisted until the 5th century CE. Its well-preserved thermal bathing complex boasts decorative floral motifs on walls and floors, and its paintings are on display at the Museum of Málaga.

It is a remarkable archaeological Roman deposit that includes a factory (with a cutting plant, tanks for fish salting, and storage), some ovens and baths. The chronology of the site is estimated to take place between the 1st and 5th centuries CE. However, its discovery is very recent (1987) and was due to the unfolding of the variant of the Fuengirola highway through the Finca del Secretario on the right bank of the Pajares stream, between the railway Málaga-Fuengirola and the quarter Los Pacos.

Invaluable historical pieces have been found in this deposit, such as the Venus of Fuengirola or agricultural tools.

In relation to the baths, excavations carried out since 1991 have uncovered a small thermal building (approximately 540 square meters), whose excellent condition make it the most complete of those found in the province of Málaga so far.

Access to the baths must have been on the north-east side of the building, the worst known to be partially under the road. A paved platform provided an entrance to a small lobby richly decorated with wall paintings and polychrome mosaic floor with geometric patterns. Then a patio, as a distributor, heads the swimmers into the various rooms of the building.

On the north side of the courtyard, flanked by two small fountains decorated with mosaics framed with seashells, opens the “apodyterium” or wardrobe. On the south side lie the latrine and a small pool of cold water. On the east, we find another pool and in the west of the courtyard were located the heated area consisting of four rooms.

Interpretation Centre

The opening of the Interpretation Centre of Finca del Secretario took place on Friday 19 July 2019. At this centre, visitors can observe a reconstruction of the old Roman thermal baths, which are arranged as originally used.

Opening hours:
Check the following link, https://turismo.fuengirola.es/que-ver/patrimonio-historico/

How to get there

Avda. Nuestro Padre Jesús Cautivo
Zip Code 29640

More information

Discover more about the province of Malaga

Discover more about the province of Malaga