first England, now Rome

Last week I visited England. Yesterday, Rome.

...Ancient Rome, that is. Did you know that emperors Trajan and Hadrian were both from Spain? I sure didn't. I'd assumed that all Roman emperors were, well, born in Rome. But, in fact, Hadrian and Trajan hail from the Sevilla area, from a sizeable Roman settlement called Italica.

Founded in 206 BC for veterans of Rome's victory over Carthage, Italica was the first of many Roman settlements in Spain. And thanks to it's favorite sons Hadrian and Trajan, the city received a tremendous boost, with grand projects that were, in truth, on a scale entirely uncalled for given Italica's population size.

When the empire fell, Italica was largely abandoned, and what remains today is a fantastic peak into the majesty of the Roman metropolis.

Italica's layout is a perfect example of the marvel of Roman town planning, with distinct sections designated for public, semi-private, and private buildings, all of which integrate beautifully into an exceptional landscape.


MOSAICS
For me, the most captivating aspect of Italica was the prevalence of beautiful, intricate mosaics, covering virtually every room in the homes of the Italica's political elite and wealthy residents. Even simple hallways were decorated with unique and colorful mosaic designs. At Italica, there's not simply one or two mosaics to be seen; there are dozens! Here's just a sampling of the designs (including our friend Medusa up in the top middle):


There were so many great mosaics, but unfortunately because I was standing on the ground and not hovering over them from the air, I wasn't able to get good photographs to share with you. At right are images from the large House of Birds mosaic, which depicts more than 30 different species of birds. Each bird is so colorful and artfully created, it's truly magic to see. But, sadly my photography just doesn't do it justice. Oh well.

AMPHITHEATRE
Italica has one of the largest of all Roman amphitheatres, with a seating capacity of 25,000--clearly more than was needed based on the size of the town's population.

I enjoyed walking around the grounds, through the interior corridors, onto the main central arena. I tried to imagine it full of spectators, but couldn't due to the site's decaying state and the sun's increasing heat.

I did spend some time in the Gladiator's room, trying to see if I could decipher any of the Latin words that make up the Gladiator's creed, or prayer. This is where they would gather, awaiting their designated time in the ring. Spooky.

In all, it was a great visit...a must do for anyone visiting Sevilla, especially since it's a simple half-hour bus ride from downtown Sevilla...and just $3 round trip! :)