The first roman city of Hispania.

It was also the first city founded in the Italian territory. To visit the city of Italica, today an archaeological site, is to make a journey into the Roman Empire, wandering through the same streets of its ancient inhabitants and imagining the enormous structures that they raised there, of which only remain the ruins.

From Municipality to Colony

While the Second Punic War was raging General Scipio established a military settlement for the legionaries here, the Sevillian Aljarafe, today belonging to the municipality of Santiponce a few kilometres from Seville.

What had started as a Military colony, ended up being one of the principle cities of the Roman territories. The proof of which were the two emperors who were born in Italica, Trajan and Hadrian, who in turn bestowed the city with more privileges and improvements. With Hadrian Italica stopped being a simple municipality and became a model city of Rome

A buried city

However, the ruins that are open to visitors are only part of this immense city, specifically the expansion overseen by the government of the Emperor Hadrian. The remains of the primeval city continue to be buried under the town of Santiponce, settled here since 1603. 

Notwithstanding this expansion was conceived for the most powerful families, as the ruins are large Domus, Roman houses, with well conserved opulent mosaics.

In addition, Italica has monumental public buildings such as the Thermal baths, the Exedra, dedicated to meetings and banquets, or the Traianeum, an enormous temple dedicated to the worship of Emperor Trajan. Not to mention the great amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Empire, with a capacity of 25 000 people. In its centre you can see the pit where the wild animals would have been enclosed only to be let loose in the middle of the fight via a trapdoor, to create more excitement in the spectacular.

The theatre of Italica is one of the preserved monuments of the city under the town of Santipoce.  It was discovered in the 30s and excavated in the 70s. Its antiquity is part of its importance as it was built in the time of Augostus. Its function, although mainly theatrical, was also for the celebration of religious rituals and political acts. 

In conclusion, a very recommendable trip because of its proximity to Seville, (7 km) its price (free for EU citizens) and for the site’s great heritage wealth.

Images source: 95 – 104 (section 3)