Long before it became a city of music, Llíria was Edeta, the capital of the Iberian Edetani people. Its archaeological heritage is among the richest in the Valencian Community.
Tossal de Sant Miquel
On the hill overlooking the town, next to the Sant Miquel sanctuary, lies the site of the Iberian city of Edeta. Excavations uncovered houses, streets and an exceptional collection of painted pottery showing warriors, hunts and dances — considered some of the finest figurative scenes of the Iberian world. Many of these pieces are held at the Museu de Prehistòria de València.
The Mura sanctuary
In Roman times the town moved its centre down to the plain. There a large bath and religious complex was built, known as the Mura sanctuary — one of the best-preserved of its kind in Hispania. It can be visited today and helps explain how important Edeta was in the Roman world.
The Roman mausoleums
On the outskirts are the remains of Roman funerary mausoleums, further evidence of the social standing of the town’s elites.
Visiting tips
- Check opening times and guided tours with Llíria’s tourist office: some sites only open by appointment.
- Combine the archaeology with the historic centre and the Church of the Assumption.
- The Llíria Archaeological Museum (MALL) helps put what you’ll see at the sites into context.