The restoration of the San Juan del Hospital historical com…

The restoration of the San Juan del Hospital historical complex in Valencia led to the unexpected and groundbreaking discovery of the Roman circus of Valentia, a find that fundamentally changed the historical understanding of the city’s status during the Roman Empire. Archaeologists working between 1987 and 1997 uncovered remains of a massive structure measuring over 350 meters in length, including the Carceres (starting stalls), the Arena (track), and the Spina (the central barrier decorated with obelisks and ponds), with significant fragments found during the restoration of Constance of Hohenstaufen’s mausoleum. This discovery, supported by findings of everyday Roman artifacts like jewelry and perfume jars, proves that Valencia was a city of high importance capable of hosting grand chariot races, debunking previous theories that it was a lower-category settlement.