The Eastern Gate

The Romans, in addition to the system of ports that marked out the maritime routes, built or consolidated an extensive network of roads - the causeways - for the smooth movement of troops in the conquest of the territories. The Roman roads were used for the transit of people, the transport of goods, to facilitate the administration and collection of taxes, etc., and also became a vehicle for the transmission and exchange of cultural elements, ideas and beliefs.

The Via Augusta is one of the main roads built by the Romans in Spain. It linked the approximately 1,500 km between Rome and Cadiz, bordering the Mediterranean and crossing the Valencian Community. Cities and posts -mansions- along their route allowed armies and travellers to stock up on supplies, rest, change horses, etc. Some have disappeared, but others are the origin of our current cities.

The Romans laid out, built and signposted their roads with great precision, aiming for straight lines and horizontality, which they achieved thanks to a developed knowledge of public engineering. Their vestiges are still visible today, from the excellent pavement of the Via Appiain Italy...

The Via Appia (Italy), the queen of the Roman roads.
Source: "The Roads that Lead to Rome", by Victor W. von Hagen. Editorial Labor S.A..

... to possible Roman chariot tracks, identified by J. Lafuente Vidal (1934) in La Albufereta...

... that could lead to the eastern gate of the city...

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