Italica from Seville: the Roman ruins 30 minutes away
From Seville: Italica Roman ruins city tour
How do you get from Seville to Italica?
Take the Damas bus from Plaza de Armas bus station (line M-172) to Santiponce. Journey: 30 minutes, €1.80-2.20 single. The Roman ruins of Italica are a 5-minute walk from the Santiponce bus stop. No tour required — straightforward independently.
Most visitors to Seville spend three or four days exploring the Alcázar, the Cathedral, Triana, and the neighbourhood tapas bars — and then leave without realizing that one of the largest and best-preserved Roman archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula is 9 kilometres away. Italica can be reached in 30 minutes from Seville’s Plaza de Armas bus station, costs €1.50 to enter (or is free for EU citizens), and takes 2-3 hours to explore. It is the easiest half-day excursion from Seville and one of the most undervisited.
Getting there: bus to Santiponce
The Damas bus line M-172 runs from Seville’s Plaza de Armas bus station to Santiponce. The journey takes 30-35 minutes. Tickets cost €1.80-2.20 single — payable on the bus. Buses run regularly (approximately every 30-45 minutes during the day).
At Santiponce, exit at the main bus stop on Avenida de Extremadura. The entrance to Italica is a 5-minute walk. Signs are visible from the bus stop.
Return: Buses back to Seville run throughout the day. Last bus is in the early evening — check current schedules at the bus stop or damas.es.
Alternative — guided tour: Multiple operators run half-day tours to Italica from central Seville, with or without the Game of Thrones angle. These include transport, a guide, and Italica entry. Useful if you want archaeological commentary. The bike tour to Italica (cycling along the Guadalquivir) is an excellent option for active visitors.
From Seville: Game of Thrones and Roman empire Italica tourThe history of Italica
Italica was founded by the Roman general Scipio Africanus in 206 BC, shortly after the Roman victory over Carthaginian forces at the Battle of Ilipa nearby. It was one of the first Roman settlements in what became Hispania — a colony for veterans of the Italian legions (hence the name Italica: the city of the Italians).
The city grew to prominence in the 1st-2nd centuries AD. Two Roman emperors were born here: Trajan (53 AD, first emperor born outside Italy) and Hadrian (76 AD, builder of Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, known for the Pantheon and his travelling court). Hadrian in particular had strong sentimental ties to Italica and lavished resources on the city — the massive amphitheatre and many of the urban amenities date from his reign.
At its peak, Italica had a population estimated at 8,000-10,000. By the 4th-5th centuries, however, the city had declined, and its stone was gradually quarried for other buildings. The site was partially excavated from the 18th century onwards and remains under active archaeological investigation.
The amphitheatre
The amphitheatre of Italica is the third largest in the Roman world (after the Colosseum in Rome and the amphitheatre at Capua), with an estimated capacity of 25,000-30,000 spectators. It was built in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD, likely during Hadrian’s reign.
The current state: the arena floor and underground passageways (used for animals and condemned prisoners before their release into the arena) are visible and accessible. The seating banks have largely eroded, but the scale of the oval — 160 metres by 137 metres — is still imposing. Standing on the arena floor and looking up at the surrounding hillside gives a clear sense of the spatial experience for ancient spectators.
Game of Thrones context: The arena was used in Season 7 as the Dragon Pit — the meeting place south of King’s Landing where the alliance against the Night King was negotiated. The camera angles in the show minimize the modern surroundings; in person, the location is immediately recognizable to fans of the series.
From Seville: Italica 3-hour Game of Thrones guided tourThe Roman town: streets and mosaics
Beyond the amphitheatre, the excavated urban sector of Italica reveals one of the best-preserved Roman street grids in Spain. The nova urbs (new city) built during Hadrian’s expansion is laid out in an orthogonal grid, with large insulae (city blocks) containing domus (townhouses) organized around interior courtyards.
The mosaics: Several of the domus have in-situ mosaic floors. The most impressive are:
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Casa de los Pájaros (House of the Birds): A central courtyard mosaic depicting approximately 40 species of birds, each in a separate panel. The ornithological accuracy is remarkable — species are identifiable by feather patterns and body shape.
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Casa del Planetario: Mosaic representing the seven planets of ancient astronomy (Sol, Luna, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) as gods, with associated symbols.
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Casa de Neptuno: Fragment of a marine mythological scene with Neptune and sea creatures.
The mosaics are protected by simple roofing structures. Some have been removed to museums; what remains on-site is the original in-situ floor surface.
Street infrastructure: The cardines and decumani (main and cross streets) are defined by stone curbing, with original column bases and door thresholds visible at house entrances. Drainage channels running beneath the streets are exposed in sections.
The baths: The suburban thermae (public baths) at the western end of the site preserve the floor plan of the hot-room (caldarium), warm-room (tepidarium), and cold-room (frigidarium) with hypocaust (underfloor heating) channels visible.
The Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo
On the main road through Santiponce, 500 metres from the Roman ruins, the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo was founded in 1301 by Alonso Pérez de Guzmán (“El Bueno”) and his wife. The Gothic church contains significant Mudéjar elements and a remarkable set of 15th-century frescoes in the chapter house (Sala Capitular) depicting scenes from the life of St Jerome.
The monastery has a complicated history: it was a Cistercian house that later became associated with radical reformers. In the 16th century, Cipriano de Valera (who translated the Bible into Spanish with Casiodoro de Reina) was a monk here before fleeing to England during the Inquisition.
Opening hours vary — check santiponce.es for current schedule. Free or minimal entry.
Practical notes for a visit
What to bring: Water (the site is largely open and unshaded), sun protection in summer, comfortable shoes (uneven stone surfaces). The underground passages of the amphitheatre can be dark — phone torchlight useful.
Best time of day: Early morning (9-11 AM) before heat builds, or late afternoon (4-6 PM). Midday in summer is very hot in the open arena.
Combined with Carmona: Italica (morning) + Carmona (afternoon via Casal bus from Seville, or direct from Santiponce by car) makes a Roman-themed full day. Both destinations are half-day visits; combining them works well. See Carmona day trip guide.
Children: Italica works well for families with older children (8+). The GoT connection makes it relevant to young viewers. The underground amphitheatre passages are interesting for children. The open space allows freedom of movement. See Seville with kids for broader family travel tips.
For an overview of day trips, see best day trips from Seville. For the Italica destination page, see Italica.
Frequently asked questions about Italica from Seville
What is Italica and why does it matter?
Italica was one of the first Roman cities founded in the Iberian Peninsula, established around 206 BC. It was the birthplace of two Roman emperors — Trajan and Hadrian — making it historically significant in the wider Roman world. The archaeological site contains one of the largest surviving Roman amphitheatres, well-preserved mosaics, and street layouts.Did Game of Thrones film at Italica?
Yes. The Italica amphitheatre served as the Dragon Pit of King's Landing in Season 7, Episode 7 (The Dragon and the Wolf). The meeting of all the main characters — Jon Snow, Daenerys, Cersei, Tyrion — was filmed in the arena. It is visually recognizable without much imagination required.How long does a visit to Italica take?
1.5 to 3 hours depending on interest level. A focused visit covering the amphitheatre and main mosaics takes 1.5-2 hours. A thorough exploration of the street grid, the suburban baths, and the less-visited areas of the excavation takes 2.5-3 hours.What is the admission cost for Italica?
EU citizens: free. Non-EU visitors: €1.50. Opening hours vary by season — typically Tuesday-Saturday 9 AM-7 PM (summer) or 9 AM-5 PM (winter), Sunday 9 AM-3 PM. Closed Mondays.Can I combine Italica with other sites in Santiponce?
Yes. The Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo (14th century, with significant frescoes) is on the main road through Santiponce, 5 minutes' walk from the ruins. The monastery has a complex history — it was later associated with the 16th-century humanist and Bible translator Cipriano de Valera. Check opening hours separately.
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