Andalusia - Italica

Near Seville is a place called Italica, best known as the birth place of Roman Emperor Trajan. 

We visited it mainly because Trajan is considered the founder of my country, Romania, together with our local king, Decebalus. 

Also because the ruins from Italica are between the best preserved roman cities from Spain.

This ancient Roman city demonstrates wonderful examples of Roman architecture, 

mosaic work and city layouts.

The massive amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Roman Empire, surrounded by a wooded park, is one of the most impressive we have seen. It is also in reasonably good condition. 

You can wander through the tunnels where gladiators would once have walked and stand in the den which would have housed the lions. 

The theatre had a capacity of 20,000 spectators that sat on the three tiers. In the centre of the arena is a great pit which would have been covered by a wooden structure. 

This was used for gladiator and wild animal sports.

The streets are characterised by their great width and even today, the original cobbles and guttering remains. The street layout is of a grid pattern, forming regular squares in which would have stood public buildings and private dwellings.

Several of the buildings have been uncovered to reveal intact and well preserved mosaic floors.

The mosaics are exquisit, including an excellent coloured floor from The House of the Birds, partially restored to show what it may have looked like.

 

The day we visited the antique city was sunny and windy, best for walking around.

The city was provided with fresh water by means of an aqueduct and the waste water was taken away by means of underground drains. Some of these can still be seen through grilles placed at the road intersections.

Excavations of Italica date back to 1781 and have not stopped since. It is estimated that the city was so large that excavations will never be completed.

The cat followed us all the way, like a dog, was nobody there and she needed a small talk. I think we were the only visitors that day.

 

Throughout the Middle Ages, the ruins were used as a source of stone for Seville, but fortunately the  famous amphitheatre has survived. 

The village close to Italica ruins is called Santiponce, and is situated at about 10 kilometers distance from Seville, if you ever want to visit it.