Ruins Around Sevilla

Before Spain was the unified country that we know and love today, it was inhabited first by the Romans and then by the Moors- the ruins of many of their constructions are still seen today in and around the city of Sevilla. There are several that we have visited, including the Roman ruins of the city of Itálica and two medieval castles built by the Moors. Below are pictures from some of the houses and buildings from Itálica:

I was particularly impressed that a lot of the Roman floor mosaics are still intact. The ruins of the Itálica amphitheater are also still standing, though barely- there were a lot of restoration projects going on:

Katie and I got into a battle royale- it was the spirit of the amphitheater. The castles were also fun to see, though it was downpouring throughout that excursion. We visited two medieval castles near Sevilla- one at Utrera and the other at Alcalá de Guadaíra. Both were built by the Moors as part of the fortresses surrounding the cities. The one at Utrera actually had a series of underground tunnels connecting the castle with the cathedral and other important landmarks throughout the city. Unfortunately, the caves have caved in and can no longer be used.

I enjoying standing in the same place that people stood hundreds of years ago and envisioning myself in their situation. It's a slightly eerie feeling, but it makes me wonder- what will be left of our civilization in 1500-2000 years? Will there be ruins of skyscrapers and steel bridges alongside the brick and stone ruins of the Romans and Moors? What stories will those generations remember from our times? Personally, I have no idea what future students will learn about us but it sure is interesting to think about...