One of the most important archaeological remains from this period are the Rio Verde Roman Villa's. Dating back to the first century of this era, the remains have been identified with the ancient Salduba (the meaning of which is salt place), found some six kilometers from the center of Marbella in San Pedro Alcantara direction.

The general interest of these remains is based upon the mosaic floors made up by small square shaped pieces in a variety of colors, known as "tesellae".

To the right of the entrance there is a small square shaped room, the floor of which is decorated in the same way with mosaics and the central theme is a reproduction of the Medusa's Head, as a symbol of good luck (a gorgonian) The rest of the decoration is reduced to geometric elements alternating in well balanced shapes, except in the patio (peristilo) in which we find various representations related with culinary arts, such as animals, ovens, bowls, grills, soup dishes, etc. all in black and white, which, regardless of certain inexactitudes in representation and perspective, they continue to have a certain charm about them.

GUADALMINA TERMAL BATHS

This impressive massive bulk, also known as "Las Bovedas" is situated in an area close to the entrance arch from San Pedro Alcantara (towards the beach).

They are Roman Thermal Baths from the first centuries of the Roman Empire (II or III), as is testified on the marble plaques which most probably covered the walls. Remains of clay pipes have also been found that could have served to carry the hot water or air. Not many years ago it was still possible to see the remains of a small aqueduct that most probably served to supply water to the baths and was sketched in 1567 by the Belgian artist Anton van der Wyngaerde.

The whole building surrounds an octagonal patio with a lake in the center; around which are seven inter connected rooms, also in octagonal shape. The upper floor is some 4,8 meters high above the center floor and above the central part there must have been a copula with a glass roof, which rose perpendicular above the small lake in the very center of the building.

PALEO-CHRISTIAN BASILICA

Possibly built in the second third of the Fifth Century of our era, the Vega del Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica has always been known as the "Moorish Cemetery" and was discovered at the beginning of the Twentieth Century during the planting of eucalyptus trees. Various archaeological works have uncovered the floor of the basilica and a necropolis that surrounds it with more than 180 different types of graves.

The basilica was a rectangular shape and was composed by three large rooms, separated by stone pillars and 60 cm thick walls, built in stone and mortar with lime. The head of the central room was the site for two semicircular apses and on the northwest side there were two rooms which served as sacristies and were called prosthesis and diaconicon, the right hand room was used as baptistery with a pool shaped as a cross set inside the room.

The area has been prodigious in archaeological remains such as clay vases, jewels, coins and epigraphic plaques, mainly corresponding to the funerary coffers, which are actually to be seen at the National Archaeological Museum, as well as in the Marbella Town Hall.

THE RIO REAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS

Situated on the meridian side of a promontory in the Rio Real area, very close to the outlet of the river, various ceramic pieces, plates, stream lined bowls, and some bowls of difficult determination, made by hand and by wheel, and the remains of a building have been found (the latter is being worked on right now). The chronology is ample and could encompass the 6th and 7th centuries BC, and although the area is not very rich in Phoenician remains of these characteristics, one can be inclined to consider that it was a settlement based to work the very important iron mines, in particular the close by Peñoncillo Mine. The materials found include ceramics of Phoenician types and also indigenous and Greek. The settlement itself most probably dates back to the 8th century BC and most probably lasted until the 4th Century BC.

CASTLE

The remains of what is calle the Castle are no more than a small part of what in one time formed part of the defense system in the city of Marbella.

The building of the castle or fortress goes back to the end of the 9th century of the beginning of the 10th in our era and Roman materials were used to build it (possibly taken from Salduba), as the great pillars testify in the lower parts of the building, as well as the three Jonick Capitals in the walls, used as simple stones.

After the reconquering of the castle, this was slightly modified, basically to prepare it for a possible war.

The Town Hall has recently recovered the back plates from the north and south of the citadel by eliminating some of the old buildings that were built against the walls of the castle.