DAY 19 - SEVILLE to SANTIPONCE - Saturday 11 May 2024

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We had an early walk around our local area before leaving Seville, enjoying the lack of crowds and the morning light.  

Today we began the Via de la Plata! As we had already crossed the bridge it used, we took another bridge then joined up with the Via further down. It was well signposted and quiet down along the river. We had our 4th conversation with a snail collector, who explained the snails are farmed around Lebrija, where we'd visited earlier, and showed us his bag of snails. 

We had lunch at a bar in Santiponce before leaving our bags in our accommodation and heading out to Italica, the first Roman city founded on the Iberian peninsula. Most of the earlier part is under the town of Santiponce, but much of the newer part (117-138 BC) expanded under Hadrian is accessible. It was very peaceful wandering around the structures. 

Early morning walk in Seville
Our route out of Seville. The clapping hands sculpture was not flamenco-related, as we had thought, but a sign of recognition and gratitude to the Andalucian health and essential services workers who guided the province through the Covid pandemic. 
Before long we were on the Via de la Plata. There were some scenic sections and some rather nondescript sections today. 
A snail-collector and his haul
Santiponce. The statue commemorates the first translation of the Bible into Castilian, in Santiponce over 500 years ago. 
Italica - interpretation centre. The busts in the bottom photo are of Hadrian and Trajan, the Roman emperors who came from Italica. 
The amphitheatre at Italica. When it was built, it was the second-largest in the Roman Empire, behind only the Colosseum.
Plenty to catch the eye in Italica
Italica - wandering through the impressive remains
Walking back from the supermarket with tonight's dinner
Birds
Day 19 - Map

Day:                               19
Distance:                      10.01 km
Walking time:               2 hrs 03 mins
Elevation gain:             84 metres
Cumulative distance:  312.79 km

Comments

  1. Murray and Sandra17 May 2024 at 20:22

    After a short layover in Singapore we’ve arrived in Ireland. Straight into a traditional rural Irish funeral/lying in state/wake/burial for my sister-in-law’s mum. Sad, but an impressive way to remember her life and a great way to catch up with Ann’s family many of whom we hadn’t seen since a visit in 1990 - but they remembered!

    My thoughts on your birds are: Iberian Grey Shrike ? (but the reddish bill looks wrong),house Martin, Moorhen, Common Swift.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aussie Slow Travellers18 May 2024 at 07:24

      Glad to hear you've arrived safely, and are catching up with family, sorry it involved a funeral. Thanks for your thoughts on the birds.

      Delete

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