Roman Antipolis: Walking in the Footsteps of Ancient Rome

When the Romans conquered Antipolis in the 2nd century BC, they transformed a Greek trading post into a thriving Roman town. Today, most tourists walk past Roman-era remains without ever realizing what they’re seeing. But if you know where to look – and what to look for – the ancient city of Antipolis still whispers its stories.

From Greek Antipolis to Roman Antipolis

The Roman Conquest (154-125 BC)

The Romans didn’t conquer Antipolis through a single dramatic battle. Instead, Roman control came gradually as they expanded through southern Gaul (France), subduing the local Gallo-Ligurian tribes.

By 154 BC, Rome had established a strategic alliance with the Greek city of Massalia (Marseille), which controlled Antipolis. When local tribes threatened Massalia, the Romans intervened militarily. By 125 BC, Rome had effectively taken control of the entire coastal region, establishing the province of Gallia Narbonensis (Narbonese Gaul).

Why Antipolis Mattered to Rome

• Strategic location: Natural harbor between Italy and Spain
• Trade hub: Connection point between coastal and inland trade routes
• Naval base: Port for patrolling the Mediterranean against pirates
• Tax collection: Customs station for goods moving along the Via Aurelia

Roman Urban Planning in Antipolis

The Roman Grid

The Romans loved order. When they took over Greek cities, they often imposed their characteristic grid street pattern (cardo and decumanus system).

In modern Antibes, you can still trace this pattern:

• Rue de la République roughly follows the ancient decumanus maximus (main east-west street)
• The old town’s rectangular layout reflects Roman urban planning
• Some property boundaries still follow Roman-era divisions

Secret Simon shares: Stand at the intersection of Rue de la République and Rue James Close. You’re standing at what was likely the center of Roman Antipolis – the forum area where the main streets crossed.

Visible Roman Remains

1. The Roman Aqueduct Stones

Scattered throughout the old town, especially in basement walls and building foundations, you’ll find massive cut stones with distinctive Roman chisel marks. These are often reused blocks from dismantled Roman structures.

Where to spot them:

• Lower courses of the Château Grimaldi (Musée Picasso) foundations
• Sections of the old ramparts near the Porte Marine
• Building basements along Rue de la République (visible through basement windows)

How to identify Roman stonework:

• Larger blocks than medieval masonry (often 50-100 cm long)
• Precise rectangular cuts with smooth faces
• Sometimes faint tool marks in parallel lines
• Occasionally, carved grooves from mechanical lifting devices

2. The Roman Harbor

The modern Port Vauban sits approximately where the Roman harbor was located, though the ancient harbor was smaller and configured differently.

Archaeological surveys have discovered:

• Quay foundations: Under modern dock structures
• Amphorae shards: Broken transport jars for wine, oil, fish sauce
• Anchor stones: Massive pierced stones used as ancient anchors
• Warehouse foundations: Storage buildings for maritime trade goods

Underwater archaeology: Divers have found Roman-era artifacts on the seabed, including broken pottery, anchor parts, and even sections of ancient dock infrastructure.

3. The Roman Road: Via Julia Augusta

The famous Roman road connecting Italy to Spain passed through Antipolis. This was later called the Via Aurelia or Via Julia Augusta (after Emperor Augustus improved it).

Today’s remnants: The N7 highway roughly follows the ancient Roman road route. In some sections outside Antibes (particularly near the Brague River), archaeologists have uncovered original Roman paving stones.

Hidden detail: Near the old town’s western edge, there’s a section of deeply rutted stone pavement. Some historians believe these ruts were worn by Roman cart wheels over centuries of use. The ruts match the standard Roman cart axle width.

4. The Roman Necropolis

Like all Roman cities, Antipolis had its burial grounds outside the city walls (Roman law prohibited burials within city limits).

Excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries discovered:

• Sarcophagi: Several marble and stone Roman sarcophagi
• Funeral monuments: Carved stone memorials to prominent citizens
• Burial goods: Jewelry, coins, pottery buried with the deceased
• Cremation urns: Both cremation and inhumation were practiced

Many of these finds are now in museums, but the original necropolis location was in the area of the modern avenue Jules Grec and avenue de Verdun (west of the old town).

Roman Daily Life in Antipolis

What Archaeological Evidence Reveals

Housing:

• Domus: Wealthy Romans lived in courtyard houses with mosaic floors (fragments found during excavations)
• Insulae: Multi-story apartment blocks for common people
• Villas: Countryside estates on the hills overlooking the town

Economy:

• Maritime trade: Wine, olive oil, fish sauce (garum) exports
• Pottery production: Local kilns produced amphorae and tableware
• Agriculture: Wheat, grapes, olives in the surrounding countryside
• Military supply: Provisions for Roman legions and navy

Population: Estimates suggest Roman Antipolis had 3,000-5,000 inhabitants at its peak (2nd-3rd centuries AD) – similar to medieval Antibes but much smaller than the modern city.

The Roman Names We Still Use

Several modern names derive from Roman-era Latin:

• Antibes itself – evolved from Latin “Antipolis” → Provençal “Antibou” → French “Antibes”
• Garoupe (Cap d’Antibes) – possibly from Latin “gurges” (whirlpool/gulf)
• Port Vauban – “Vauban” is modern, but the port location is ancient

Hidden Roman Secrets

The Basement Museum That Almost No One Knows

In the basement of a building on Rue de la République (not officially a museum, privately owned), there are visible sections of Roman-era foundations including a portion of what appears to be a hypocaust (Roman underfloor heating system).

The owner occasionally allows historians and guided tours to view it. Simon has arranged access in the past for dedicated history enthusiasts.

The Reused Roman Column

Built into the wall of a building near the Place Nationale, there’s a section of a Roman column – not decorative, but structural, reused by medieval builders. It still bears faint fluting (decorative grooves) typical of Roman civic architecture.

Most people walk past it daily without noticing. Simon will show you exactly where to look.

The “Roman” Graffiti

On a stone in the Château Grimaldi foundations, there’s a faint carved inscription. While some claim it’s medieval, other scholars argue the letter forms suggest Roman origin – possibly a stonemason’s mark or a boundary marker.

The inscription is so worn that it’s nearly illegible, which is why it remains disputed. Simon can show you the stone and explain both theories.

The Famous Romans of Antipolis

Inscriptions Mention Notable Residents

Archaeological finds include inscribed stones mentioning:

• Marcus Valerius Marcellus: A Roman magistrate who served in Antipolis (1st century AD)
• Decurio councils: Local government officials managing city affairs
• Seviri Augustales: Wealthy freedmen (former slaves) who funded public works

These weren’t famous empire-wide, but they were important local figures who shaped Roman Antipolis.

Imperial Connections

Emperor Augustus passed through Antipolis multiple times on his way to inspect the Spanish provinces. The Via Julia Augusta was named in his honor after he funded improvements.

There’s a local legend (unverified) that Julius Caesar briefly stopped in Antipolis during his conquest of Gaul, but no archaeological evidence confirms this.

The Decline of Roman Antipolis

3rd-5th Centuries AD: Troubles Begin

• Barbarian raids: Germanic tribes began raiding coastal cities in the 3rd century
• Economic decline: Trade disruptions reduced prosperity
• Population drop: People fled to safer inland locations
• Infrastructure decay: Without maintenance, Roman buildings deteriorated

The Transition to Medieval

By the 5th-6th centuries AD, Antipolis had transformed:

• Much smaller population concentrated in a fortified core
• Roman buildings being dismantled for building materials
• Christian churches built on sites of Roman temples
• Latin evolving into early Provençal language

The medieval town of Antibes was built literally on top of Roman Antipolis, reusing stones, foundations, and street layouts.

Discovering Roman Antibes Today

The Archaeological Museum

The Musée d’Archéologie (on the ramparts) houses the best collection of Roman artifacts from Antipolis:

• Amphorae and pottery
• Coins spanning several centuries
• Inscribed stones and monuments
• Tools, jewelry, household items
• Scale models reconstructing Roman Antipolis

What You Can See on a Walking Tour

With Simon’s expert guidance, you’ll discover:

• Reused Roman stones in medieval and modern buildings
• The likely location of the Roman forum
• How the Roman street grid influenced the modern old town
• Where the Roman harbor and docks were located
• Hidden basements with Roman foundations
• The connection between Roman infrastructure and later developments

Why the Roman Period Matters

Understanding Roman Antipolis isn’t just about ancient history – it’s about understanding why Antibes exists where it does, why the streets follow certain patterns, and how 2,000 years of continuous settlement have shaped the city you see today.

The Romans didn’t just pass through – they built infrastructure, established trade networks, and created an urban layout that, in many ways, we still use today.

Further Exploration

Nearby Roman sites:

• Trophy of Augustus (La Turbie): Massive Roman monument, 20 km away
• Cimiez Roman ruins (Nice): Amphitheater and bath complex
• Via Aurelia remains: Sections of Roman road visible near Fréjus

Experience Roman Antibes with Simon

On our walking tour, Simon brings Roman Antipolis to life:

• Identifying Roman stonework hidden in plain sight
• Explaining how Roman engineering influenced modern Antibes
• Showing you locations of Roman buildings now vanished
• Connecting Roman history with the Ligure period before and medieval period after
• Revealing details even professional archaeologists sometimes miss

Ready to discover the Roman city hidden beneath modern Antibes? Book your tour with Simon and explore Antipolis – where ancient Rome still lives in the stones, streets, and stories.