The Romans were great builders and architects. They built roads, aqueducts, bridges, temples, amphitheaters, and other structures that still stand today. In this lesson, we will learn about the Roman towns of Andalusia in Spain.
The city of Cordoba, founded by the Romans as a military outpost, has a rich history that dates back to antiquity. It became a thriving trading center during the Middle Ages and is now one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Established by a general named Claudius Marcellus, Cordoba served as the capital of the Roman province Hispania Ulterior. Despite a turbulent past, the city flourished under Roman rule, becoming the prosperous capital of Baetica under Augustus in 27 BC.
Today, remnants of Cordoba's Roman past, such as the Roman bridge and the ruins of the city's Roman temple, offer a fascinating glimpse into the grandeur of the Roman Empire.
Seville is a beautiful city with a rich history. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages, it was the capital of the Muslim kingdom of al-Andalus. After the Reconquista, it became part of the Kingdom of Castile.
The Romans left an indelible mark in Andalusia. In the province of Seville you can still admire the finest ruins of his magnificent city. The fertile fields and the Guadalquivir River made possible the large-scale production of olive oil and its export to Rome and the Empire. The Archaeological Museum of Seville has the best collection of Roman objects in Spain specially from Italica. In Seville (Híspalis to the Romans), the columns in Mármoles street surprise us by their size and original situation.
Itálica near Santiponce, was founded in 206 BC by Scipio Africanus after defeating the Carthaginians at Ilipa. Birthplace of Trajan and Hadrian, there is a remarkable amphitheater, a theatre, thermal baths and various mosaic dwellings. Going up the Guadalquivir - Beatis in Roman times, we pass Alcalá del Río - Ilipa Magna, on the way there are beautiful temples built on oriental style terraces, unique to the Western Roman Empire and influential arrangement of things in Rome. frequency. time. On the way to Carmona, the Guadalquivir can be crossed by boat at Alcolea as before. Carmona - Carmo to the Romans, with the gates of Seville, Carthaginian walls and Roman arches, like the gates of Cordoba. There is also a necropolis hypogeum and an amphitheater and a small museum.
Two large towns of the fertile plains are worthy of note: Ecija - Roman Astigi and Osuna, known as Urso to the Romans where there are the remains of a necropolis, and both have museums.
Malaca (Malacca) was the name of the city of the Roman Republic that belonged to Hispania Ulterior, which was founded on the Phoenician settlement Malaka and is nowadays the city of Malaga.
Roman Malaga began after the conquest of the Romans under the rule of Carthage in 218 BC. Malaga did not resist and was able to reach an agreement with the Roman Empire and remain independent.
Numerous remains and monuments have been preserved from this period. Of special importance is the Roman Theatre located in the historic centre of the city, although there are many more and others that are being discovered from time to time.
Ronda was founded by the Romans as a military outpost. They named it "Ruda", meaning "fortified place". After the fall of Rome, Ronda became part of the Visigoth kingdom. During the Moorish invasion, Ronda fell into decline. It was later conquered by the Christians who renamed it "Ronda".
The Romans established Ronda as a fortified post due to its strategic location on a high plateau, which made it an ideal place for a settlement. The city flourished during the Roman period, with the construction of public buildings, roads, and aqueducts.
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Ronda was taken over by the Visigoths, who left few traces of their occupation. However, the city's fortunes changed dramatically with the arrival of the Moors in the 8th century. Under Moorish rule, Ronda was transformed into a thriving city with beautiful palaces, baths, and gardens. Despite this period of prosperity, Ronda fell into decline after the Moorish invasion and was largely abandoned.
It wasn't until the Christian Reconquista in the 15th century that Ronda regained its former glory. The Christians rebuilt the city, constructing churches and monasteries on the ruins of the Moorish buildings. Today, Ronda is a vibrant city that bears the marks of its rich and varied history.
The city of Huelva is located in southwestern Spain. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The first inhabitants were nomadic tribes who lived in caves and rock shelters. Later, the Phoenicians settled there. The Romans arrived in 218 BC and established a fortification called Castra Regina (Queen's Fortress).
One of the most significant contributions of the Romans to the city of Huelva was the exploitation of the rich mining areas near Rio Tinto. The Romans began large-scale mining operations in the 1st century AD, literally moving mountains to extract valuable minerals. The mines of Riotinto were a major source of copper, gold, and silver for the Roman Empire, and the wealth generated from these mines played a crucial role in the development of the city of Huelva.
Today, the legacy of the Roman mining activity can still be seen in the landscape around Huelva and the Riotinto area. The ancient mines, now a major tourist attraction, offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's Roman past.
Credit cards accepted
