Just outside of Seville is a town called Italica, and as the name implies, it has something to do with Italy. In fact, it was a major Roman city founded in 206BC by Scipio. Both Trajan and Hadrian were born there and some believe Theodosius was also born there. A bustling port city on the Guadalquivir River, the same that made Seville so rich, it fell into decline when the river shifted its route in the 3rd century. In recent centuries, the ruins were visited by and written about by foreigners, but it was used as a quarry and Seville ordered the amphitheater walls to be destroyed for a dam on the river. But in the early 1800s during the Napoleonic rule, the site was ordered to be protected and excavated. It is well preserved because the site was not built upon in subsequent years. We decided to make a quick stop there on the way to our overnight stop in Sierras de Francia.
| While it looks a bit like a pile of rocks, the amphitheater is surprisingly well preserved. | Entrance to the amphitheater |
| Inside the amphitheater. It was the 3rd largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire at the time and seated 25,000, half that of the Colosseum in Rome. | Several hallways with alcoves that contained effigies of Roman gods and goddesses circle the amphitheater floor underneath the seating. This is where orators, performers, gladiators, and others would prepare themselves and pray before entering the amphitheater. |
Looking closely at the ceiling, I could see snail shells in the rocks.
| Underneath the amphitheater floor where gladiators and animals would be held. |
| This is the view spectators would have upon entering the amphitheater, walking through the arches into the amphitheater. | Mosaics are exceptionally well preserved. |
Leaving Italica, we headed north into Extremadura on Three Kings eve. We listened to the local radio, with a child interviewing other children about what gift they thought the Three Kings were going to bring them, leaving it in the shoes they left outside the front door along with snacks and drinks for the Kings and their camels.
We spotted another Osborne bull on our way, our 5th of the trip.
| The drive to the rural town where we were staying was spectacular.
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The tiny town of Cepeda where we were staying.
| Adorable Air BnB with very kind and friendly caretakers. |
| Happy to be in the forest! | This bridge dates back to Roman times and the Ruta de la Plata, the Silver Route, which actually is not a route for trading silver, but a a mistranslation of the Arabic word for cobble road.
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One of the Three Kings Day traditions is to have a rascon, a special cake. Inside the cake are two special things, a little plastic or ceramic king and a bean. If you get the king, you get to wear the crown and be king for the day. And if you get the bean, you have to buy the cake for the next year's celebration.  |
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The Three Kings visited...and brought carbon/coal...
| ...and other good stuff, too like a Hogwarts VanGogh! |
| Having another rascon with our very kind hosts, Adela and Roberto. | The property where we stayed is next to an ecological reserve, and they grow several different types of berries and other fruits. Yummy! |
They converted the old farm buildings into beautiful little abodes.
| Sweet cabin where we stayed. |
We went on another hike before we had to leave. |
Heart-shaped rock in the forest; maybe it was part of the Ruta de la Plata.
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Adela's family's old dwelling.
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Sweet little mosses and lichens. |
Retaining walls for farming in the regrown forest. |
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| Snow on the mountains as we were leaving Sierra de Francia.
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