Roman Seville (Hispalis) and Italica in Spain

eville lies in the Andalucia region of southern Spain. It has been an important settlement since the 8th century BCE. The earliest known inhabitants were the Tartessians who were conquered by the Carthaginians. The Carthaginians fortified the region, but were conquered in the Second Punic War by the Romans under the general Scipio Africanus.

After the war, Scipio needed a place to settle his veteran soldiers. He elected to place them in a new settlement located on a neighboring hill. This settlement would become known as Italica. It was chosen because it was located next to the city of Seville and could be easily defended.

Under the Romans, the city of Seville would become known as Hispalis.

This was the region where Julius Caesar served out his quaestorship; it was the birthplace of two Roman emperors, Trajan and Hadrian; and it was the home city of one of the most important medieval intellectuals, Isidore of Seville who was the city's archbishop in the 7th century.

Most of Seville's early Roman past lies buried under a modern, bustling metropolis. Nevertheless, if we look closely we can find a few remnants along busy streets and tucked between apartments of neighborhoods.