Roman amphitheatre of Italica

Roman amphitheatre of Italica
Anfiteatro romano de Itálica
View of the amphitheatre
Shown within Spain
LocationSantiponce (Seville), Spain
Coordinates37°26′38″N 6°02′48″W / 37.44389°N 6.04667°W / 37.44389; -6.04667
TypeRoman amphitheatre
History
FoundedAD 117 and 138
PeriodsRoman Empire

The Roman amphitheatre of Italica is a Roman amphitheatre in the Roman colonia of Italica –in present-day Santiponce (Seville), Spain–, in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. Built during the reign of emperor Hadrian (who was born in Italica), approximately between the years AD 117 and 138, it was one of the largest in the entire Roman Empire with a capacity of 25,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial fights and combats between beasts or men and beasts during ancient Rome.

Italica was largely abandoned by the Romans in the 3rd century. It was rediscovered during the Renaissance, in the 17th century, and work to unearth the amphitheatre began in the late 19th century. The amphitheatre, currently in ruins, is a tourist site offering visitor tours.