Santiponce is a town in the Sevillian Aljarafe region, located barely 7 km from Seville. Its current location was consolidated at the end of the 16th century after the abandonment of the former settlement near the Guadalquivir River, which was repeatedly affected by flooding. Today, it is one of the most important cultural and historical destinations in the metropolitan area of Seville.
Within its municipal boundaries lies the Archaeological Ensemble of Itálica, whose legendary foundation dates back to 206 BC and is traditionally linked to Publius Cornelius Scipio after the Second Punic War. Itálica achieved great importance within the Roman Empire and was closely connected to the families of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, being the documented birthplace of Trajan and, most probably, also of Hadrian. The archaeological site preserves two clearly differentiated areas: the Vetus Urbs, or ancient city, located beneath part of the current urban centre, and the Nova Urbs, a monumental expansion promoted during the reign of Hadrian.
Some of the most representative archaeological remains of the ancient city are integrated into the current urban fabric of Santiponce, including the Roman theatre and the so-called Minor Baths. The visitable area of the archaeological ensemble includes wide streets, aristocratic houses decorated with mosaics, thermal bath complexes and the emblematic amphitheatre, considered one of the largest in the Roman Empire, with an estimated capacity of between 25,000 and 35,000 spectators. This site is one of Andalusia’s main archaeological and tourist landmarks.
Santiponce is also home to the Monastery of San Isidoro del Campo, declared a National Monument in the 19th century. Founded in the 14th century by Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, it is one of the most outstanding medieval complexes in Andalusia. Its architecture combines Gothic and Mudéjar elements, with particular emphasis on its two churches, cloisters and monastic rooms of great historical and artistic value.
The destination is currently positioned as a benchmark for cultural, archaeological and heritage tourism, complementing its offer with traditional gastronomy, cultural activities and a close connection with the city of Seville.
| Admission into the Smart Tourism Destinations Project |
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| Key initiatives
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- Santiponce has consolidated a tourism strategy based on enhancing the value of its main heritage resources, led by the Archaeological Ensemble of Itálica and the Monumental Site of San Isidoro del Campo, two leading cultural landmarks in Andalusia. Local tourism policy is aimed at strengthening Santiponce’s positioning as a benchmark for heritage and experiential tourism in Andalusia, integrating cultural visits, educational activities, historical re-enactments and programming linked to the Roman legacy.
- Digitalisation and improvement of the visitor experience: The destination is moving towards a more accessible and innovative cultural tourism model through the improvement of interpretive resources, heritage signage and the development of digital channels for tourism information and promotion. Visitors can access digital content associated with the municipality’s main heritage resources, including the Archaeological Ensemble of Itálica, the Monumental Site of San Isidoro del Campo, the COTIDIANA VITAE Thematic Centre of Life in Rome and the Fernando Marmolejo Municipal Museum. This strategy facilitates access to historical and cultural information, fostering a more complete, interactive and autonomous visitor experience.
- Integration into smart tourism and sustainability strategies: Santiponce is aligned with the lines of tourism transformation promoted in Andalusia towards smart, sustainable and regenerative tourism models, especially those linked to heritage conservation and the balanced management of tourist flows.
- Promotion of a sustainable heritage tourism model: The municipality’s strategy focuses on the preservation of archaeological and monumental heritage as a key driver of economic and tourism development. Tourism policy seeks to make the increase in visitors compatible with the conservation of cultural resources, promoting educational, cultural and proximity-based tourism.
- Metropolitan connection and complementarity with Seville: Its proximity to Seville enables Santiponce to position itself as a complementary destination within the tourism offer of the metropolitan area, especially in segments such as cultural tourism, heritage excursions, educational tourism and international visitors interested in the Roman legacy of Hispania.
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Technical data
VAT number:
P4108900D Address: calle Arroyo, s/n Postal code: 41970 Telephone: 955 99 99 30 Region: Andalucía Province:
Sevilla Population:
Santiponce Country:
España Local entity type: Ayuntamiento Date of membership:
20241107 Diagnosis: Sí Diagnosis date:
21/05/2026 Destination Type:
Urbano de interior Population:
9 Area (km²):
8.38 Density (inhab/km²):
1,026.63
Level in the Network: Nivel 3
