Italica, nine kilometres from Seville, comprises ancient old and new towns. The former dates from 206 BCE when the all-conquering Roman general Scipio Africanus settled Italian veterans on the site giving the town its name. But old Italica is now mostly hidden under the modern town of Santiponce built in the 1600s.
Fortunately new Italica, originally a northerly extension, is a stunning archeological site of the town built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE). Both Hadrian and his adoptive father Trajan came from old Italica and new Italica was endowed with buildings, facilities, a temple and works of art far beyond the needs of its population size – reflecting Hadrian’s wish to embellish his former home town.
Italica hosts the empire’s largest amphitheatre outside of Italy and extensive remains of town buildings and infrastructure as well as beautiful mosaic floors.
