Écija
Ecija, the City of Towers, located on the Rio Genil between the two Andalusian cities of Córdoba and Seville in the province of Seville, in the so-called frying pan of Andalusia.
History and Archaeology
A permanent settlement Écijas could be detected down to the eighth century BC. The Roman name of the Iberian settlement was Astigi. During the battle of Munda, who was beaten near Astigi, the city was "fixed" in Julius Caesar's side. Caesar rewarded the city with fortifications and established it as a colony Colonia Iulia jumbo company Astigitana new. Under Emperor Augustus, her name was extended to Colonia Iulia Augusta company Astigitana. Under Augustus, which lies along the Via Iulia Augusta Astigi was also the capital of one of the four monasteries of the Roman province of Baetica ( the others were Gades, Hispalis and Corduba ). The legend tells of a visit of the Apostle Paul in Astigi, is said to have preached here. In late antiquity, was a bishopric from the city. Under the Visigoths Astigi became a fortress. After the Battle of Rio Guadalete in July 711 against the Moors, in which the Visigoth King Roderick fell Ecija was one of the first cities to be conquered by the Muslims and incorporated into their new province of al -Andalus. First, here parts of the defeated army had Visigoth or withdrawn. Archaeological findings show that the city at that time only had a fraction of their old Roman period size and that old Roman baths, which have been excavated in the town square of Sevilla ( Plaza de España or popularly known Salón de Ecija ), as in Visigothic and early Islamic cemetery served.
After the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba Medina Astiğğia became dependent various Taifa kingdoms, until the Birzaliden of Carmona, the Zirids of Granada and finally the Abbadids of Seville.
Ferdinand III. conquered the city in 1240 by the Almohads ( " Reconquest "). In the following centuries Ecija developed through the construction of churches for the City of Towers.
Due to the great earthquake of 1755 Ecija was widely destroyed.
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