Temple Romà de Vic (Roman Temple Viewpoint)
Hidden inside the courtyard of the Castell dels Montcada for centuries — which is precisely why it survived — Vic's 2nd-century Roman temple is one of the best-preserved in the Iberian Peninsula. Climb to the terrace beside its Corinthian columns at dusk and you'll have one of the most quietly dramatic viewpoints in all of inland Catalonia, the plains of Osona spreading golden to the horizon.
A Temple Hidden in Plain Sight
The temple, dedicated to an unknown deity (possibly Augustus), was incorporated into the medieval castle and later a private residence, its columns walled into the structure. It was only rediscovered and excavated in the late 19th century, emerging from its stone cocoon remarkably intact.
Six slender Corinthian columns of local limestone still stand on a raised podium, giving you a visceral sense of how imposing the building must have been when Ausa (Roman Vic) was a thriving provincial town in the 2nd century CE.
The View from the Podium
The temple sits on a slight rise at the edge of the old town, and the terrace around it offers an unobstructed panorama over the flat Plana de Vic — a patchwork of maize fields, farmhouses, and distant ridgelines that on a clear day reaches as far as the pre-Pyrenean foothills.
This is the best spot in Vic to watch the sun set. The warm light turns the limestone columns amber and floods the plain below in gold — bring a camera and stay until the street lamps flicker on.
Combining with the Neighbourhood
The temple is located at the top of Carrer de la Ciutat, a steep lane that connects it to Plaça Major below. The surrounding streets — Carrer dels Argenters, Carrer de Sant Sadurní — are full of medieval facades, artisan shops, and the odd excellent bar.
Entry to the temple precinct is free and it is open year-round. The Museu de l'Art de la Pell (Leather Art Museum), an unexpected gem, is just two minutes' walk away and worth a quick visit.
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