Museo Foro Romano Molinete (Roman Forum Molinete Museum), Cartagena (must see)

The Roman Forum Molinete Museum occupies the slopes of Molinete Hill, preserving one of the most important archaeological areas of the ancient Roman city of Carthago Nova. Discovered and excavated in recent decades, this complex reveals the civic and religious heart of the Roman settlement, dating mainly from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. Today, the museum combines indoor interpretation with an open-air archaeological walk, allowing visitors to move directly through the remains of the ancient forum.

Your visit begins inside the modern museum building, where introductory galleries explain the urban layout of Roman Cartagena. From here, follow the clearly marked route downward toward the south and outward onto the archaeological walk, which forms the core of the experience. As you step outside, continue along the designated path that winds across the hillside, generally leading westward while descending, offering a gradual transition through different sections of the site.

One of the first major highlights you will encounter along this route is the thermal baths complex. Continue forward along the main path, keeping to your left as the terrain slopes down, to reach this area, where you can identify heated rooms, service corridors, and sections of flooring that once formed part of a sophisticated bathing system. From here, follow the path as it curves to the right and slightly north, leading you toward the Atrium Building, a large structure organized around a central open courtyard.

Continuing along the same route, proceed forward and slightly upward to the northwest, where you will arrive at the Sanctuary of Isis, one of the most distinctive elements of the site. Dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, this area reflects the cultural diversity of Roman Cartagena and its Mediterranean connections. From here, continue northward, and the path opens into the area of the Colonial Forum, the civic center of the ancient city.