Juliobriga

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Juliobriga (Julióbriga in Spanish, Iuliobriga in Latin, Ἰουλιόβριγα in Greek) was the most important Roman city in Cantabria. Ancient writers like Pliny the Elder mention it. The ruins are usually identified with Retortillo village and the Villafría area in Campoo de Enmedio. Juliobriga was founded during the Cantabrian Wars (29–19 BC) and became a symbol of Roman control over the Cantabri tribes. It was named after Emperor Augustus and the Julia gens, with the Celtic element -briga in the name. Its position in the Besaya valley helped it control trade between the Douro and the Bay of Biscay. The city grew to its peak at the end of the 1st century and early 2nd century AD, then declined and was abandoned in the 3rd century. The Retortillo ruins were identified as Juliobriga in the late 18th century by Enrique Flórez, and since then many scholars have studied the site. It was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural, a Spanish Heritage Site, on March 29, 1985.