Italica

Italica is located in the municipality of Santiponce, just outside the city of Seville in the Andalusia region of Spain. Founded in 206 BCE, it was one of the earliest Roman settlements established on the Iberian Peninsula.

Italica was established in 206 BCE by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus as a settlement for his wounded veterans following the Battle of Ilipa during the Second Punic War. It was intended to solidify Rome's military presence in Hispania and reward the soldiers who fought against the Carthaginians.

Italica was highly prestigious in the Roman Empire and is famously known as the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Under Hadrian's reign in the early 2nd century CE, the city was heavily expanded into a new district known as the "nova urbs," complete with grand public buildings.

The archaeological site is renowned for its incredibly well-preserved Roman mosaics, many of which still feature intricate geometric and mythological designs in their original floors. Visitors can also explore the massive Roman amphitheater, which was one of the largest in the empire and could hold an estimated 25,000 spectators.