July 04, 2024

Italica, an old Roman city in Santiponce, Sevilla, Andalusia, Spain

Ghosts of cities past. Italica, an old Roman city in Santiponce, Andalusia, Spain

It was the year 206 BCE. In the wake of the Battle of Ilipa, Roman general and statesman, Publius Cornelius Scipio, built a settlement for the veterans who helped defeat the Carthaginians. Located on the right bank of the Guadalquivir River, it was named Italica, after the Italian origin of its inhabitants. The city was the first Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula and played a significant role in the Romanisation of the region, then known as Hispania—today Spain. Italica flourished in the centuries following its founding, especially during the rule of Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, who were born there.

The ruins of Italica are the remains of a once-bustling urban centre. Its most emblematic feature is the amphitheatre, seen in today's image. One of the largest in the Roman Empire, it could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators, more than double the city's population. Beyond this, there are remains of impressive public buildings, a temple built in honour of Trajan, baths and villas decorated with stunning mosaics. Italica is an archaeological gem preserved in time, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the Roman Empire.