EEHAR — Spanish School of History and Archaeology in Rome
The Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma (EEHAR), or Spanish School of History and Archaeology in Rome, is a research institution founded in 1910 by the Spanish government to support historical and archaeological scholarship in Italy. Operating under the aegis of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the institute promotes research into Italian antiquity, medieval and early modern history, and the rich connections between Spain and Rome across two millennia of shared cultural history. Its central Roman location places it within walking distance of major classical sites and archive collections.
At a glance
- Type
- Academic research institute for history and archaeology
- Period
- Founded 1910; under CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) since 1941
- Style
- Early 20th-century institutional building in Rome
- Location
- Central Rome, Italy
- Coordinates
- 41.8965° N, 12.4848° E
Overview
EEHAR is one of the oldest continuously operating foreign academic institutes in Rome, reflecting Spain’s long-standing scholarly interest in classical antiquity and the deep historical entanglement between Spain and the Italian peninsula from Roman times through the early modern period. The institute runs a specialist library, hosts visiting researchers and fellows, organises excavations on Roman and pre-Roman sites, and publishes scholarly series on archaeology and Italian history. It collaborates with Italian universities, museums, and the national archaeological services.
History
The institute was established in 1910 at the initiative of the Spanish state, part of a broader European movement to anchor national scholarship in Rome during a period when classical studies were central to national identity projects across Europe. It was reorganised under the CSIC framework in 1941. Over more than a century, EEHAR has supported research into Hispania Romana, Visigothic archaeology, medieval Italo-Spanish connections, and the Spanish presence in early modern Rome, including the large community of Spanish merchants, clergy, and diplomats who shaped entire districts of the Renaissance city.
What you see
The institute occupies a building in central Rome that houses its library, reading rooms, and offices alongside residential quarters for visiting scholars and fellowship recipients. The library collection specialises in Hispano-Roman archaeology, Italian historiography, and the history of Spanish-Italian relations across all periods. Public events including lectures, seminars, and occasional exhibitions are held within the institute’s spaces throughout the academic year.
Cultural significance
EEHAR represents the scholarly dimension of one of European history’s most consequential relationships: that between the Iberian Peninsula and the Italian world from Roman colonisation through the Habsburg domination of large parts of Italy in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its research has been foundational to the understanding of Hispania Romana and Spanish Rome, topics with far-reaching implications for the cultural history of the western Mediterranean.
Practical information
EEHAR is primarily a research and academic institution. Public access is limited; researchers may apply for library access or residential fellowships through the CSIC. Check the official EEHAR website for current events, fellowship calls, and any public programming open to visitors.
Getting there
EEHAR is located in the Prati or central Rome district. From Termini railway station, take Metro Line A toward Battistini or use city buses toward the Vatican/Prati area. The nearest Metro stop is Lepanto (Line A). Taxis and shared ride services cover the central Rome area readily.