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Italica Review

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Itálica

Phone: 95/599-7376; 95/599-6583

Category: Archaeological Sites
Location: Itálica

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Fodor's Review:

One of Roman Iberia's most important cities in the 2nd century with a population of over 10,000, Itálica today is a monument of Roman ruins, complete with admission charge. Founded by Scipio Africanus in 205 BC as a home for veteran soldiers, Itálica gave the Roman world two great emperors, Trajan (52-117) and Hadrian (76-138). About 25% of the site has been excavated, with work still in progress. You can find traces of city streets, cisterns, and the floor plans of several villas, some with mosaic floors, though all the best mosaics and statues have been removed to Seville's Museum of Archaeology. Itálica was abandoned and plundered as a quarry by the Visigoths, who preferred Seville. It fell into decay around AD 700. The remains you can see include the huge, elliptical amphitheater, which held 40,000 spectators, a Roman theater, and Roman baths. The small town of Santiponce has sprung up nearby.

Cost: EUR 1.50
Open: Tues.-Sat. 9-5:30, Sun. 10-4

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