The city of Carthago Nova was elevated in 44 BC. C. to the rank of Roman colony with the name Colonia Vrbs Iulia Nova Carthago (C.V.I.N.C). Immediately, during the mandate of Augustus, an ambitious process of Romanization and urbanization of the city was undertaken that would make it one of the most splendid in the Roman Empire.

The city had a large amphitheater since Republican times. Emperor Augustus was now going to provide it with a luxurious Roman theater and a large forum.

The Roman forum of Carthago Nova was located in the center of the city, at the confluence of the main communication routes (the cardo and the decumanus), and between the mountains of Cerro de la Concepción (where the theater was located) and Arx Asdrubalis (now Cerro del Molinete).

The forum was located approximately under the current Plaza de San Francisco and has been partially excavated. Among the main monuments of the forum that have been found so far, the following stand out:

• - Temple dedicated to the Capitoline triad: Jupiter "Jupiter (mythology)"), Juno "Juno (mythology)") and Minerva. To the north, on the Molinete hill, the podium "Podium (architecture)") has been found on which this temple, common in almost all Roman forums, sat. Currently, it is awaiting an excavation and appraisal process.

• - The augusteum. To the south of the square, a building was excavated that seems to have served as a college of Augustales, or priests of the cult of Emperor Augustus. This site is valued and can be visited within the Cartagena Puerto de Culturas program.

• - The curia. Seat of the colony's government. It appeared during the construction of the new health center in the old town and will be visitable when the construction is completed. It was decorated and paved with luxurious marble brought from all over the Empire. In these excavations the sculpture of Augustus in robes appeared.

In 2008, comprehensive excavation of the entire southern slope of the windmill was launched, discovering in its entirety some baths and a palestra from the late imperial period that were already partially known, as well as a luxurious home of some city magistrate.

Most of the materials from these three sites, and other materials found in excavations of nearby plots and that are related to the Roman forum of Carthago Nova can currently be found in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.