Date

Circa 1910

Sagunto (Saguntum) is located on a mountain overlooking the Palancia river; traditionally it was founded by Greek colonists from Zákinthos. It captured by Hannibal in 219 BCE, causing the Second Punic War. Later taken by Romans and reconstructed as a stronghold. The Roman theater on the northern slope of the citadel hill was demolished by Napoleon's marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet, who also destroyed the Roman tower of Hercules. It was partly restored in late twentieth century (with modern additions). It was the first official National Monument declared in Spain (1896).