Southern Spain is understood for its gorgeous landscapes, sun-drenched seashores, and historic cities adorned with Moorish structure.
Strolling by means of Andalusia right now, you won’t notice that this area performed a major half within the Roman Empire: it’s the birthplace of three Roman emperors, whose legacies nonetheless echo within the space’s historic ruins and wealthy cultural heritage.
Let’s return in time to discover Southern Spain’s fascinating Roman previous.
Associated learn: The Greatest Locations to Go to in Andalucía
In a rush? E book this non-public tour of Italica
Personal Italica Tour | Origins of the Emperors: Discover the traditional Roman metropolis of Italica and the Countess de Lebrija’s Sixteenth-century palace-museum on a personal guided tour with transport included.
➡️ Go to Italica and the Lebrija Palace with a personal information and transport.
➡️ Discover Sport of Thrones filming areas.
➡️ Uncover Italica’s historic mosaics, amphitheatre, baths, and mansions.
➡️ Tour the Lebrija Palace museum and its archaeological treasures.
The Roman Legacy in Andalusia, Southern Spain
The traditional province of Baetica, positioned in modern-day Southern Spain, was one of many wealthiest elements of the Roman Empire. Its fertile lands produced olive oil, wine, and wheat, which had been exported throughout the empire. From this affluent area emerged three emperors—Trajan, Hadrian, and Theodosius I—every leaving an everlasting legacy in Roman historical past.

The three Emperors of Southern Spain
Trajan: The First Emperor from Baetica
Trajan was the primary Roman emperor born outdoors of Italy, in a metropolis referred to as Italica, close to what’s now Seville. His reign lasted from 98 AD to 117 AD, a time which is commonly remembered as one of many empire’s most affluent intervals. Underneath Trajan, Rome’s territory grew to its best extent, stretching from Britain to the Center East.
A go to to the archaeological website of Italica provides a glimpse into the grandeur of the Roman Empire’s frontier, with its spectacular amphitheater, intricate mosaics, and well-preserved streets.
Hadrian: The Builder Emperor
Hadrian, the successor and adopted son of Trajan, was additionally born in Italica. Hadrian’s reign was marked by his efforts to consolidate relatively than increase. That being mentioned, you could be conversant in Hadrian’s Wall, an archaeological wreck in England. Hadrian’s affect stretched throughout the Roman Empire.
He was a lover of structure and Greek tradition and his legacy lives on by means of the quite a few buildings he constructed throughout the empire, from the long-lasting Pantheon in Rome and his lavish villa in Tivoli. Visiting Southern Spain right now, his affect stays, significantly in Italica, which he reworked with spectacular development initiatives throughout the town.
Theodosius I: The Final Emperor of a United Rome
In contrast to Trajan and Hadrian, Theodosius I used to be born in Cauca: modern-day Coca, close to Segovia. Because the final emperor to rule over each the japanese and western halves of the Roman Empire, Theodosius is most famed for making Christianity the official faith of the empire.
Although the division of the empire marked his reign, his impression on shaping Europe’s spiritual panorama endures to today.

Go to Italica: A Step Again in Time
No exploration of Southern Spain’s Roman historical past can be full with out a go to to Italica, only a quick drive from Seville. Our unique, guided tour provides a personalised journey by means of this historic metropolis, which was based in 206 BC by the Roman basic Scipio Africanus and tremendously developed by Hadrian.
Accompanied by your non-public information, you’ll be taught all about Italica’s magnificent historical past as you admire the gorgeous ruins, together with its well-preserved amphitheater, which as soon as held 25,000 spectators. Intricate mosaics that adorned the houses of the town’s elite are nicely preserved and lovely to behold.
When you’ve absolutely skilled Italica it’s best to head to Lebrija Palace in central Seville. This magnificent Sixteenth-century home has been repurposed as a museum. It’s crammed with archeological treasures from Italica and provides a glimpse into the blended historical past of the Roman Empire and Andalusia—an unmissable expertise for historical past lovers and the proper method to spherical out your understanding of this phenomenal archeological website.
Value: €589 (for 2 folks)
Period: 3 hours
Included:
- Personal 5-star tour information
- Transportation between websites
- Lodge choose up
- Entrance tickets to Italica
- Entrance tickets to Lebrija Palace
- Tour of Italica
- Italica Amphitheatre
- Filming areas of Sport of Thrones
- Tour of Lebrija Palace
- Italica mosaics and artefacts

For these within the wealthy, advanced historical past of the Roman Empire, Southern Spain provides a novel alternative to discover its historic previous. From the ruins of Italica to the colourful cities of Seville and Cordoba, the place Roman structure and historical past nonetheless affect the tradition, this area invitations guests to step again in time.
Strolling by means of these historic streets, you’ll really feel the echoes of emperors who as soon as dominated the world, their legacy immortalized within the stones beneath your toes.