Lucentum (Tossal de Manises)
Archaeological site of the ancient Ibero-Roman city of Lucentum, on a low rise by the sea at La Albufereta, about 3.5 km from the centre. It preserves the street plan — walls, baths, forum and streets — of a settlement occupied from Iberian times to the 3rd century AD. Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1961, it gives ancient Alicante its name.
Before it was Alicante, the city was Lucentum. Its remains survive at the Tossal de Manises, a low rise by the sea at La Albufereta, about 3.5 km from the centre of Alacant.
What survives
The site keeps the street plan of an Ibero-Roman settlement occupied from Iberian times to the 3rd century AD: walls, baths, forum and streets you can walk. It is one of the few places where you can read clearly how a provincial Roman town was laid out.
A point of interest
The name of ancient Alicante comes from Lucentum. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1961 and is run by the MARQ, so the museum and the site go hand in hand. A good pair for a day trip built around history.
Frequently asked questions
Is visiting Lucentum free?
It's not free to enter; it's managed by the MARQ, so it's best to check prices and hours in its official information.
Where is the Lucentum site?
At the Tossal de Manises, a small rise by the sea in La Albufereta, about 3.5 km from the centre of Alicante.
What is preserved at Lucentum?
The urban layout of an Ibero-Roman city occupied from Iberian times to the 3rd century AD: walls, baths, a forum and streets. The name Alicante derives from Lucentum.
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Lucentum (Tossal de Manises) has a fuller guide on our sister site, dedicated to Alicante province.See it on FindeAlicante →
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