Santiponce Itálica

Heritage

An immense legacy waiting to be discovered

Roman Quarries of Cerro Bellido

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At the top of Cerro Bellido, on the opposite side to the access, are the hollows formed by two large Roman "lapidicinae" stone quarries. Remains of pottery, buildings and metal tools used by the workers have been found there. A very steep slope separates the River Yeguas from the western part of the hill, and it is thought that thick Roman channels were placed across this slope to carry water. We are talking about thick channels of baked clay, 50 cm in length and about 25 cm in diameter.

The stones were extracted in the form of a cylinder, by means of wooden wedges that were soaked and when they expanded broke the rock. It is believed that these stone tubes were used to build some buildings in Cordoba, and once these were in ruins, the remains would be reused for other constructions such as the Town Hall and the Church of Santa Victoria in Cordoba. It is also said that the Arabs were able to use these cylinders in the mills they had on the river in order to carry the water from the dam to the wheel.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the presence of fossil remains of marine fauna, especially shells. Their origin dates back millions of years, to when the Tethys Sea covered the southern and eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula.

Opening times

10:00 a 14:00 y de 17:00 a 19:00

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