Short answers, pulled from the story.
Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio established a settlement near the native Iberian town of Turdetani in 206 BC. He named this new colonia Italica after his Italic veterans who settled there.
Emperor Hadrian expanded the city northwards to create what became known as the nova urbs. This expansion elevated Italica to the status of Colonia Aelia Augusta Italica and included the construction of the enormous Traianeum temple.
Ancient authors disagree about whether Emperor Theodosius I was born in Italica or Cauca. Hydatius and Zosimos state he was born at Cauca in Gallaecia while Marcellinus Comes and Jordanes place his birth at Italica near Santiponce.
The Guadalquivir River shifted its course during the third century AD leaving Italica's port high and dry. This natural change caused siltation problems that removed the city's primary access to trade routes along the waterway.
Regular excavations did not begin until 1839, 1840 despite earlier efforts. The site received legal designation as a National Monument via Royal Order in 1912 before clear definitions of the protected area emerged in 2001.