Italica was founded in the year 206BC by General Publius Cornelius Scipio as a place of settlement for soldiers wounded in the battle of Illipa. It also served as an important military outpost. The name Italica gave reference to the first settlers who came from Italy.

Marcus Ulpius Trajan was born in the city in 53AD as was his successor, Aelius Hadrian in 76AD.

Located just a few miles north of Seville, in the village of Santiponce lies one of the most important and largest Roman ruins in the whole of Spain. The Roman city of Italica demonstrates wonderful examples of Roman architecture, mosaic work and city layouts.

Italica can be visited every day except Mondays and entrance is free for EU citizens. Otherwise, entrance costs just 1.5€. Group visits can be arranged in advance. Pick up a guide book from the kiosk as you enter the city.

Italica can easily be distinguished into two zones. The vetus urbs (old city), founded by Scipio and the nova urbs, founded by Hadrian. The vetus urbs now lies deep beneath the village of Santiponce but the nova urbs is here, on display to the visitor in all it´s glory.

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

The city was provided with fresh water by means of an acqueduct 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.

Some of the houses uncovered include the House of the Planetarium with it´s heaxagonal mosaics depicting the seven Gods that gave names to the days of the week. The House of the Birds, partially restored to show what it may have looked like and the House of Neptune with it´s warm thermal baths.

In July, Italica comes to life with the hosting of the International Festival of Italica.