Santiponce

SANTIPONCE: FROM ITÁLICA TO SAN ISIDORO DEL CAMPO

Placed over the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Italica, in the Aljarafe area, only 4,35 mi away from the centre of Seville, Santiponce is part of two important tourist routes: the Route of the Silver and the Route of the Roman Baetica. The first one, which links the north and the south of Spain, was built in the Roman period and runs through mountains, valleys and plains; the second one moves across towns in which the Roman culture was present, as Santiponce, Carmona, The Louisiana, Osuna, Marchena, Ecija and Almodovar del Rio, the latter being part of the province of Cordova.

The most important period in the history of Santiponce is the Roman period, being one of the most relevant cities of the Roman Empire and the first Roman city founded outside the Italica Peninsula. It was founded by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, and emperors such as Trajan or Hadrian were born there. A visit not to be missed is the trip to the Ruins of Italica, the most ancient Roman settlement of the Iberian Peninsula, and also the trip to the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo.

Places of Interest

1. Itálica Archaeological Site

The Roman city of Itálica was founded by General Publius Cornelius Scipio the African in 206 B.C. to settle veterans from the Battle of Ilipa, where the Carthaginian army was defeated. The uniqueness of Itálica is justified by the antiquity of its origin, the urban splendor achieved in the 2nd century A.D., and having been the birthplace of emperors like Trajan and Hadrian.

In the archaeological site that visitors currently access, two parts can be distinguished. On one hand, the Roman city, which corresponds to an extension of the city built by Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D. in honor of Emperor Trajan, called the new city or nova urbs. Notable in this city are its wide streets that retain their original pavement made of large slabs, and the Roman houses, magnificent examples of Roman mansions, adorned with their famous mosaics made from marble tesserae. On the other hand, the Roman amphitheater, one of the largest in the empire, with a capacity for twenty-five thousand spectators.

2. Fernando Marmolejo Municipal Museum

A city museum whose exhibition, comprising six permanent display rooms, showcases the different eras of Santiponce's history: Itálica, with Roman period artifacts; the medieval city, featuring pieces from the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo; and Santiponce from 1850 onwards, depicting the everyday life of the municipality over the last 150 years. Visitors can also admire the works of the artist who gives the museum its name, 'Fernando Marmolejo, the goldsmith of Seville', with pieces donated by Marmolejo and his family.

• Free admission

3. 'COTIDIANA VITAE' Roman Life Interpretation Center

A visit to the Cotidiana Vitae center will allow you to travel to the 2nd century AD and wander through various public and private spaces of a Roman city.

Your guided visit to Cotidiana Vitae will start with various explanatory panels that will take you from the Roman Baetica, through the "Conventus Hispalensis", leading you to Imperial Itálica.

Once in the forum, you will immerse yourself in the ancient streets of Itálica through an audiovisual tour. You'll stroll along a Roman street visiting a market, a tavern, and an open-air school before reaching the thermal baths, where the virtual tour "The Roman Baths" will be recreated.

On the first floor, you can visit an accurate recreation of a Roman domus or single-family home, with its courtyard or "atrium", around which the kitchen, bedroom "cubiculum", and dining room "triclinium" are arranged.

4. Roman Theater

The theater is located just a few meters from the Itálica Archaeological Complex, it was built in the time of Augustus and restored in 2014.

Its origin dates back to 206 BC, located on the Lower Guadalquivir, halfway between Seville (Hispalis) and Alcalá del Río (Ilipa). It's close to the routes that connected with the mining exploitation area of the Sierra Norte of Seville and Huelva. It played a crucial strategic role in both political-military and economic terms during the High Roman Empire, proof of which is that it covered an approximate area of 52 hectares.

Its location is separate from the main core of the archaeological complex. Its recent restoration and the design of specific infrastructures for the space allow for a wide range of cultural activities.

The capacity for these performances reaches 758 spectators.

Currently, it is only open for celebrations or performances, among which we highlight:

• Itálica International Dance Festival
• Andalusian Roman Theaters Festival
• Greco-Latin Theater Festival