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Santiponce: Italica Ruins
Where is Italica (Santiponce)?
Santiponce is nestled on the ruins of the old Roman city of Italica.Β This post goes with Podcast #2, where l try to describe the Roman ruins of Santiponce, a city that is about 6 miles north of Seville center.
How to get to Italica from Seville?
Take the direct Seville to Santiponce bus from the central bus station at Plaza de Armas or if you have a rental car, (for example from a company that compares prices so you can get the best rate), drive.
Italica Sevilla : History
Italica was founded in 206 BC by General Scipio, also known as “The African”. He used it to settle his war veterans from the Punic Wars against Hannibal and the Carthaginians. It was the first city outside of the Italian Peninsula. It was home to Roman Emperors Trajan and Hadrian.
The city is also thought to be the birthplace of Emperor Theodosius.Β Emperor Hadrian especially was very partial to his birthplace and therefore thrived during his reign. It enjoyed great prosperity for a long time and was a busy river port before it was eventually forgotten and people moved towards Seville. The city, in its heyday, was big enough to have its own Bishop as well as troops guarding the fortress.
In 1740, Seville ordered the destruction of the walls of the amphitheater and build a dam for the Guadalquivir river. A lot of the stones were actually taken from Italica and used to build Seville. It seems to be a constant work in progress. New things are being discovered as they dig up more of the ruins. The excavation work is visible as you tour the grounds of the old city.
Roman Ruins Seville: Santiponce
Seville Attractions: Santiponce
Italica was destroyed by floods that were frequent because it sat on the banks of the Guadalquivir river. The floods of 1603 buried Italica forever. The few survivors took off to the higher ground and sought solace with the monks at the Monastery de San Isidro del Campo. With their help, they were able to build the new city of Santiponce almost entirely on top of the old ruins of Italica (the old town).
Italica: Aftermath
Footprints of the old houses are still present. Cobblestone streets where the carriages come through are well preserved. There are pillars that have withstood the test of time. Tiles from the bath houses are intact, even after thousands of years. The Italica forum seats 3000 people. Saint Isidro of Seville had been buried in Italica. His remains were later discovered and transferred to Leon.
The amphitheater in Italika has a seating capacity of 25,000 and dates back to the times of Augustus. It feels surreal to be walking in the same arena that gladiators risked and lost their lives in thousands of years ago. Give yourself about 3 hours plus to be able to see and appreciate everything.
Santiponce Italica admission fee:
The entry fee is only 0.75 cents! if you live in the EU, otherwise it’s a heft β¬1.50 (less than 2 dollars!). I was completely gobsmacked! I think they would make more money if they just put a bucket out there for donations or something.
Italica Seville opening hours:
Santiponce Italica ruins are closed on Mondays
Tuesday – Sunday 9 am – 6 pm.
Is Italica worth visiting?
Yes! I highly recommend a trip to Santiponce to see how the Romans lived in the past. It is obvious that there was a lot of prosperity in the old city. The preservation is amazing because even though there is the new city of Santiponce built on top, it did not cover all of the ancient ruins. The price of admission makes it a no-brainer.
Santiponce: worth the day trip from Seville
Monasterio San Isidro del Campo:
San Isidoro de Sevilla:
The Monastery San Isidoro del Campo is about a mile away from the Italica ruins and should be combined as a day trip from Seville.
Related Reading: Seville Giralda
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Related Reading:Β Carmona Fortress
Monasterio Santiponce:
The monastery has two churches. One is the church of Juan Alonso Perez de Guzman, the founder of the monastery in 1301. The other is the church of Alonso Perez de Guzman, his father. There is a tower, a belfry and five cloisters. It is of Gothic and Moorish design.
The monastery owned numerous properties, including the town of Santiponce (old town with the ruins). There is ongoing restoration, and some of the parts are closed to the public still after 12 years. It is free entry and is closed on Mondays.
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What do you think of Seville’s version of the Colosseum? Am l tempting you to consider visiting Andalusia?Β Spain is not just about Barcelona and Madrid you know? π
Amazing and awesome, although I am so glad we live in less brutal times. Well, at least some of us do =/
I’m glad we mostly live in less brutal times. I wouldn’t want to have been alive in those days, especially me :-(. The ruins are pretty awesome though..
Your voice is so awesomeβ¦so soothing! It’s amazing to stand and look and see the ruins and think back to having the same view as the gladiators who were surly going to die. I like what you said about beauty and death. How both can occurred in the same place!
Thanks Tonya. Funny, l don’t think that about my voice, but then it’s hard to judge myself :-). It was pretty cool to be there. I can’t wait to go back as there is a museum where they took all the stuff that was excavated that we didn’t go to. For the entry price, and it being so close, l can afford to go back again..
These are some really amazing photos! In my case, it’s the first time I see a gladiator arena and it can give you the chills π I also find it really interesting that they keep finding new stuff underground… there are still so many treasures and beautiful things buried underground…
Thanks C. Yes, it was quite chilling to be standing on the well preserved ground that the gladiators actually walked on. The discovery is ongoing, even at the monastery. Makes you wonder what other secrets lie below π
I’m so glad you’re sharing lesser known parts of Spain–because honestly, my knowledge of it is basically Madrid and Barcelona!;-) The entry fee for this is such a steal, I love it! I’d love to visit!
I know. Those two are always what everybody talks about. Andalusia rocks though. We intend to travel in our backyard so to speak. I am hoping we discover more cool stuff. We were so shocked when she told us 75 cents each. A cup of coffee cost more even :-). As they say on the price is right.. Jeeeesssssss! Come on down!!! You are welcome anytime π
I love what you’re doing! i.e. The videos and podcasts, the audio is a bit low on the podcasts so maybe you could work on that/
Santiponce is amazing, I can’t believe the entry fee is that low.
Thanks Rachael for the kind words and advice. It’s so funny hearing myself. I kept turning the volume down because l thought l sounded too loud :-). Santiponce is pretty cool. I want to visit it’s museum next. You can’t beat the price :-).
I love that you’re covering some of the lesser known spots in Spain. It’s amazing that it only costs $0.75, and I’m surprised that they haven’t built some sort of shelter or covering over those beautiful tiles. But I guess if they’ve survived this long…
Another great podcast! It’s one thing to read about people’s travel experiences, but to hear the expression in your voice when you speak about them is entirely different. Keep it up!
They actually have tents covering some of the tiles that are getting destroyed. I would have thought they would cover everything. The price if entry can’t be beat, so l plan on visiting again. Thanks for the kind words. I will keep at it π
I love Seville’s version of the Colosseum. You can find one in Germany too – in Trier. Amazing stuff but what’s better is the way that you’ve introduced this region to us. i’ve been to the coastal regions of Spain and Madrid of course, but I don’t believe that I have been to Andalusia or Granada and I’m sure I would love it as it has so much to see and for these prices, where’s the map LOL?
LOL! I’m sure you would love it too. I didn’t know Germany had one too, l would like to see it too. I love this kind of history. I hope more people visit Andalusia. It’s beautiful. Definitely worth a visit, just don’t use Vueling..hah hah!!! π
Can’t believe how little this costs!
I was bowled over by the price too :-). I still think they would make more money with a donation bucket. I almost felt bad paying so little …almost! Thanks for the comment..