Itálica was the first Roman town in Spain, founded in 206 BC. It was the birthplace of the 2nd-century AD Roman emperor Trajan, and probably of his adopted son and successor Hadrian (he of the wall across northern England). Although emperors are fairly rare here today, what remains of those times are broad paved streets and ruins of houses built around patios of beautiful mosaics. Itálica also contains one of the biggest of all Roman amphitheatres (20,000 spectators).
The most notable houses are the Casa de los Pájaros (House of the Birds) and the Casa del Planetario (House of the Planetarium), with a mosaic depicting the gods of the seven days of the week.
