Italica, near Seville

About Italica

Italica is one of Spain's best-known ancient cities. It was founded in 206 BC as a settlement for people from the Italian peninsula, hence its name. It grew quickly as new settlers arrived from Italy, and in time became one of the province's important towns.

Two Roman emperors were born here: Trajan and Hadrian. Under Hadrian the city was enlarged with new quarters of wide streets, grand houses, public buildings and a huge amphitheatre. The ruins of this 'new town' make up today's archaeological park, while the older part of Italica lies beneath the houses of Santiponce.

The amphitheatre

The star attraction is the amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Roman Empire. Stone tiers surround its oval arena, which once held thousands of spectators, more than lived in the city itself, so people must have come from all around for the shows.

You can walk through the vaulted passages under the stands, go down to the arena and see the underground chamber at its centre, where scenery for the performances was prepared. Climb to the top rows for a view of the whole arena and the fields around. The amphitheatre featured in a famous fantasy TV series, so many visitors recognise it at once.

What to see at Italica

• The amphitheatre — arena, stands and vaulted passages.
• The House of the Birds — a mosaic of dozens of bird species.
• The House of the Planetarium — gods of the seven weekdays.
• Paved streets — wide Roman roads with pavements.
• The Traianeum — remains of a temple honouring Trajan.
• The Roman theatre — in the village of Santiponce.

Mosaics and Roman houses

From the amphitheatre, paths lead into a quarter of Roman houses. The walls survive only knee-high, but many floors are covered with mosaics as clear as they were nearly two thousand years ago. The House of the Birds shows dozens of bird species, and the House of the Planetarium the gods who gave their names to the days of the week.

Stroll along the paved streets: they're remarkably wide, with pavements and drains. You'll see the column bases of porticoes, the remains of public baths and the foundations of the Traianeum temple. Signs at each house have plans and drawings to help you picture the city in Hadrian's day.

Santiponce and the monastery

Santiponce, the village around Italica, is small and quiet. In its centre is a Roman theatre discovered beneath houses, and on the edge stands the old monastery of San Isidoro del Campo, with Gothic cloisters and murals.

Santiponce has a few bars and restaurants for lunch after the ruins. Many travellers make Italica a half-day trip and are back in Seville by evening to watch the sunset from a bridge or a viewpoint in the old town.

Tips for your trip

Comfortable shoes are a must, as you'll walk a lot over uneven cobbles and grass. In the heat bring a bottle of water each; there are no shops on the site. You may be asked for ID if you're claiming free entry as an EU citizen.

Children enjoy Italica: going down into the arena, exploring the amphitheatre passages and hunting for birds in the mosaics. It's harder with a buggy, as some paths are dirt and uneven.

If you love the ancient world, pair Italica with Seville's Archaeological Museum in María Luisa Park, where many statues and mosaics found at Italica are kept.

How to do it right

• Go in the morning.
• Closed on Mondays.
• Water and a hat.
• Statues are in Seville's museum.

Questions