Itálica is the best preserved and one of the most popular Roman ruins in Southern Spain. Located close to Seville, the archaeological site of Itálica is a must-see when visiting Seville. The ruins of Itálica are a short trip from the city and one of the best value-for-money attractions in Spain.
Visiting Roman city Itálica
Itálica, Spain was the first Roman city founded in Spain and the first Roman city outside of Italy. The settlement dates from the 2nd century BC through to the 4th century AD.
It was a settlement of some note and was officially called Colonia Aelia Augusta Itálica and was one of the earliest Roman settlements. Today it’s considered to be the best Roman ruins in Spain. Surprisingly it seems not to feature on many people’s lists of what to see in Seville, which as we found out is a big mistake!
The great Roman General Publius Cornelius Scipio chose Itálica as a place to settle his war veterans who fought Hannibal and the Carthaginians in the Second Punic War. Itálica was so called as because of the Italian origins of the veterans who made it home.
The Roman town of Itálica’s reputation and status in the Roman Empire thrived as it was the birthplace of 2 mighty Roman emperors, Trajan and Hadrian. These two emperors played a big part in Roman history and this city.
During Trajan’s 19-year reign, Rome reached its maximum territorial size. Trajan was responsible for extensive public building programs and the introduction of social welfare policies in ancient Roman settlements.
These feats earned Emperor Trajan the reputation as the second of the five good Emperors who presided over an era of peace and prosperity in the Mediterranean world.
During the reign of Hadrian, he built the wall that crossed Great Britain and resided over the construction of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy. Hadrian’s Arc sits proudly outside the Colosseum one of the most well-known Roman ruins in the world.
Hadrian is considered the 3rd of the Five Good Emperors. Hadrian officially named Itálica, Colonia Aelia Augusta Itálica. It’s possible that a third emperor Theodosius I was born on the Iberian Peninsula.
Spanning over 50 hectares near the river Guadalquivir, the Itálica Roman ruins showcase various structures that offer invaluable insights into the Roman way of life. The archaeological excavations began as far back as the 17th century.
One of the most striking features is the Roman amphitheatre, which is considered one of the largest in the entire Roman Empire, accommodating up to 25,000 spectators.
The ruins of Itálica encompass well-preserved cobbled Roman streets, mosaic floors, columns, and even elaborate statues, all serving as a testament to the grandeur and sophistication of ancient Roman architecture and design
From the moment you enter the archaeological site, you are funnelled toward the famous amphitheatre of Itálica. There is a room off to the side of the entry gate that shows a short video history and some small artifacts. It also showed how these amazing Roman ruins of Italica were found and excavated.
This is Itálica, Spain
We absolutely loved visiting Itálica, it was amazing wandering around the ancient streets, Roman Ruins, and the beautiful gardens just inside the entrance. The 3rd biggest Colosseum in the Roman Empire was built here. In its prime, the Roman amphitheater in Italica Spain could hold 25,000 people!
We walked the well-worn Roman path through the archaeological excavations towards the arena. You walk through the entry to the arena and it opens up in all its glory in front of your eyes. There you are, standing on the arena floor as the only person. To be alone in this once great area was a thrill beyond words.
As I slowly closed my eyes trying to hear the people that once filled this area I tried to imagine what it would have been like to have been a warrior in the Amphitheatre. I channelled my inner Russel Crowe and picked up some dirt from the floor of the Roman theatre.
To say it was special is an understatement. Anyone who has visited Roman Ruins, monuments in Rome, and other popular destinations will tell you that you share the experience with thousands of others. Not so at Itálica, Spain, I shared the experience with my wife, children, and the Ghosts of Itálica.
Family Travel Tip: Bring food and water with you to the ruins of Italica. There was a cafe on site but it was closed the day we were there. Only opens in the summer. There are some shops located outside the boundary of Italica Spain.
Italica near Seville is by no means just a Roman amphitheatre and nothing else. It was a thriving city of over 8000 people and Italica’s buildings included homes, markets, stores, traders, families, and more.
The ancient city of Italica as of late is one of The Game of Thrones locations in Spain where the Hbo show was filmed. Roman Ruins of the Italica Colosseum featured in the last episode of season 6 of Game of Thrones. It was the meeting place of John, Daenerys and Cersei. A little CGI was added to make it look larger. Game of Thrones returned again in Season 8 to film at Italica once again.
The archaeological site of Itálica is set out in a grid, like many modern cities, with an elaborate urban centre. The original cobblestone roads are still present, so you walk in the footsteps of Roman Emperors as you explore the town.
Splendid mosaic floors are still present in the foundations of some of the past buildings, and they are fascinating to see. Columns and even a statue of Emperor Trajan have survived. Mind you, Trajan’s head did not survive ancient times! Parts of Itálica are covered by the modern town of Santiponce, including the Forum.
The Forum was the centre of the civil and religious life of any Roman city. Seville Archaeological Museum holds the famous marble colossus of Trajan and many other fine pieces that have been excavated over the years from Itálica.
It showcases Roman Seville and we highly recommend visiting if you have time in Seville.
The archaeological park of Italica is well preserved as no modern city has been built over it. The Italic settlement was abandoned because of a lack of a water source. Don’t get me wrong, Itálica was pillaged over the years mainly by the city of Seville.
The outside walls of the amphitheatre Itálica were pulled down to build a dam on the nearby Guadalquivir River. By the Royal Order of 1912, Itálica was declared a National Monument.
That is something that I can only describe as a tragedy. It was not till 1810 that the first law protecting the fine buildings, public baths, and Roman ruins was enforced ending over 1000 years of the site being looted by a larger city, that being Seville. It was a great day as the Roman ruins in Spain would be protected