Santiponce

Santiponce

At the start of the Ruta de la Plata, in the region of Aljarafe, and only seven kilometres from Sevilla, it is located Santiponce. A quiet town, no traffic jams or rush, which has preserved the rural charm of small town from Sevilla province, which distinguishes it from other neighbouring populations trapped by the expansionism of the capital.

Its eight square kilometres focus one of the richest cultural heritage of Andalusia, for in them is Itálica, the first city that the Romans founded outside the Italian peninsula and San Isidoro del Campo, a Cistercian monastery which preserves and historic treasures art.

The tranquillity of its streets, the hospitality of its people, its gastronomy and handicrafts, along with the important cultural legacy that has make Santiponce a destination capable of satisfying the concerns of every lover of rest, history and art.

The current settlement of the town dates from 1603. The inhabitants of a village on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, on the island of Hierro, suffered numerous floods. A great flood wiped out the population; the survivors had to flee and took refuge in the vicinity of the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo, owned by the Cistercian Order, under the protection of these monks. This monastery-fortress ruled the medieval manor was while the family vault of its founders.

This new settlement was made almost entirely in the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Itálica.

During Roman times, Escipión the African, in 206 BC built a military camp during the war against the Carthaginians. This camp will later grow to become the city of Itálica.
This was the first Roman city founded in Spain that became due to the fertile lands surrounding it in a major urban core.
In the second century, it would be the birthplace of the Roman emperors Trajan and Hadrian.

Under Augustus age, it became a municipality that could coin currency. Adriano is granted the title of colony and grew with the construction of a new neighbourhood with public buildings for leisure and relaxation of the upper classes.

In later years and with the decline of Rome, the city was losing ground to the point that when the Arabs came to Spain in the early VIII century, it only remained ruins.

Santiponce Monuments

Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo
Archaeological Sites
Itálica
The Vetus Urbs contains the following sites:
1. Roman theatre, built in the reign of Augustus (at the end of the I century).
2. Spa under: found on the street Trajano de Santiponce. Its date is earlier than Hadrian.

The Nova Urbs we can find:
1. Amphitheatre, one of the largest of the empire with capacity for 25,000 spectators.
2. Spa Older: Building for Leisure Centre.
3. Traineum: temple dedicated to the Emperor Trajan.
4. Roman Domus: houses decorated with a variety of mosaics. The most prominent are those of the Exedra, Neptune, birds and the Planetarium.
Museums
Museum of the City “Fernando Marmolejo.” C / Fair, sn (opening soon).
Municipal centre for exhibition and permanent dissemination of local historical and artistic heritage. It is distributed on two floors, containing rooms that develop the following contents argument:
-Santiponce, past and present. Geographical, historical and social aspects.
-Italic: the Roman city and its archaeological heritage.
San Isidoro del Campo: the monastery and historical heritage.

Santiponce Gastronomy

The many and various vegetables, legumes and greens in the area, excellent fruit and good olive oil makes possible a very popular and varied cuisine where we have to emphasize the dressings, traditional stews, cooked soft, menudo, the savoury stews and, thanks to the great love of hunting, the famous rice with thrushes, partridge or rabbit.
On the other hand, it should be noted that the local restaurant was a pioneer in innovative hospitality offering in Sevilla, emphasizing meat grilled with mojo picón from the Ventorrillo Canario and from the Oven of Gregorio, the fresh fish and seafood from the Caseta de Antonio, and most traditional home cooking of the Gran Venta Itálica.

How to get there

From Sevilla you should take the N-630.
From Extremadura and Portugal take the N-630

Distances

Sevilla 7 km
Salteras 8,5 km
La Algaba 5,5 km
Castilleja de Guzmán 7 km
Castilleja de la Cuesta 8 km
Valencina de la Concepción 5 km

Ayto. de Santiponce Town Hall