Itálica
 The
Spanish department of GIRALDA CENTER-SPANISH HOUSE offers you
the following information to help you discover the wealth of Spanish
history and monuments.
We consider that it forms part of
the culture of Spain, and it will also help you to learn Spanish
and the history of the country. The ruins of Italica are located
in Santiponce, a small town just 15 kms from Seville’s center.
Our school organizes monthly visits to Italica as part of the
cultural program.
The Roman city is visited with the
guide of one of our Spanish tutor, expert in ancient history.
From Italica you can enjoy one of the best views of Seville and
the countryside around.
In the middle of the 3rd Century
B.C. a conflict of interests between Carthage (Northern Africa)
and the Roman Republic brought these two major powers of the Western
Mediterranean into conflict. The results were the legendary Punic
Wars, the second of which was waged on the Iberian Peninsula.
The definitive Roman victory over
Carthage in 202 B.C. also signalled the beginning of the conquest
of Hispania, an incomparable territory in terms of the abundance
of resources it offered.
ORIGINS OF ITÁLICA:
The remains which can still be seen today are extended over a
hillock which dominates the plains of the Guadalquivir River,
approximately 7 kms. from the city of Seville. It was founded
in 206 B.C. by the Roman General Escipion for soldiers wounded
in battle in the nearby town of Ilipa Magna –today Alcalá
del Río- during the Second Punic War. It is the oldest
Roman settlement on the Iberian Peninsula.
EMPERORS: Itálica
was the birthplace of Trajan (53-117 AD) – the first Roman
Emperor of provincial origin. His successor Hadrian (76-138 AD)
was also educated there. Trajan represented Rome’s military
peak, with the Empire reaching its maximum expansion under his
power.
Hadrian, meanwhile, reinforced frontiers
and maintained an efficient army. He granted Itálica the
status of a colony and established and upgraded the Northern quarter,
occupying various hills which doubled the original size of the
city. This part of the city is today buried below the town of
Santiponce.
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