Recommended plans: The bellow

Recommended plans

The bellow in the province of Seville

Last visits

Monuments

The Cartuja Monastery in Cazalla dedicated to the Immaculate Conception is located in an idyllic place steeped in history, surrounded by forests, with an inexhaustible spring and breathtaking views. There are Celtic, Phoenician, Roman, Muslim and Christian remains. It seems that the first to settle in this place were the Phoenicians who created the Ruta de la Plata and operated the mines of Cerro del Hierro. In the 8th century the Fihris arrived from Morocco. On the site known as El Castillejo, they built a mosque, the largest oil mill in Andalusia and a flour mill, and remains of all these constructions can still be found. When the Moors left in the 14th century it is known that Don Pedro El Cruel, King of Castilla y León, stayed in El Castillejo and hunted bears with the Prince of Wales, known as The Black Prince. Between 1417 and 1420 Fray Lope de Olmedo built the monastery of San Jerónimo de Acela on the site and in 1476 the Carthusian monks took over the monastery from the Hieronymites. The monks hosted the pilgrims who walked the Camino de Santiago in the Casa del Peregrino and devoted themselves to farming the land. They also introduced their techniques for making the liquor now known worldwide as Licor de Cazalla. In 1836 the monks were expelled from the Cartuja as a result of Mendizábal's disentailment and the monastery fell into ruins until 1973 when the Englishman Alexander Harrington bought it and sold it to Carmen Ladrón de Guevara, who saw its potential and began a great work of restoration, winning the Europa Nostra award in 1986. The current owners, La Cartuja de Cazalla S.L., bought the monument in 1995 and have continued its overall restoration. Thus, the former monastery is now a Hostelry and a Centre of Contemporary Culture. As a Centre of Contemporary Culture, it houses a permanent exhibition of more than 100 works distributed around the central cloister and the various rooms. The gardens of the premises also display ceramic works and paintings by contemporary artists. It was declared a Monument of Cultural Interest in 1996.

Municipalities

Herrera

Herrera, a town bordering Córdoba Herrera is located just south from Estepa in the Sierra Sur. The River Genil runs through this charming town. Herrera has one of the Seville’s best-preserved ensemble of Roman villas, known as the Herrera Thermae Site. This archaeological site is one of many found in the municipal district. Indeed, all the civilisations that shaped our history passed through these lands. Today, Herrera remains a friendly agricultural town that upholds its traditions, including the rostrillos at Holy Week. During this event, the people of Herrera create biblical face masks that are worn during the processions. Enjoy the lively atmosphere and delectable cuisine that this beautiful town bordering the province of Córdoba has to offer. Sample the salmorejo majado, and satisfy your sweet tooth with ochios and tortas de aceite. Come and visit this beautiful town in the Sierra Sur. Getting to Herrera If you travel by car from Seville, take the A-92 motorway. Take exit 106 at Estepa and enter the A-318 Olivar motorway towards Herrera. If you go by train, the high-speed train between Málaga and Córdoba stops at the Puente Genil-Herrera Station, just 3 kilometres away. You can also travel by bus from Prado de San Sebastián station in Seville. Getting around The best way to discover Herrera is to stroll through the old town. Alternatively, you can also go hiking or cycling around the natural surroundings. Reasons to visit Visit the Herrera Thermae Site and travel two thousand years back in time. Discover large mosaics and marble pools at the Roman archaeological site. Walk up the hill to the Alhonoz Arab fortress. It sits 10 kilometres from Herrera towards Écija, and still preserves its defensive walls. Would you like to know how doctors worked in the past? A visit to the Municipal Museum of Ancient Medicine is bound to amaze you. Learn to shoot arrows at the Club de Tiro y Caza con Arco de Herrera and try this sport. Have fun at the town’s Quads Cross circuit. Do you enjoy going to the theatre? Visit the Festival Nacional de Teatro Marín Arjona at the end of the year. You can choose from over 30 plays, and the best ones are awarded the Herrero Golden Award. Come during Holy Week to see the rostrillos, a tradition in which residents recreate the Passion of Christ during the processions. What to see Start your visit at Santiago el Mayor Parish Church on Calle Iglesia. This temple has an impressive dome and Baroque altarpiece, as well as the first Christ the Nazarene by the famous Andalusian sculptor Antonio Castillo Lastrucci. Head now to Calle Camino de las Eras and visit Municipal Museum of Ancient Medicine. This museum has a remarkable collection of medical instruments. Be sure to explore the archaeological remains that were excavated nearby. Continue to the Plaza de España, where you will find the baroque Shrine to La Concepción. Visit the temple or take a break in a local bar or café before you leave the town to continue enjoying your sightseeing tour. About five minutes away by car or 22 minutes on foot, is the Herrera Thermae Site. This archaeological site, which was discovered in the 1990s, was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2007. You will be amazed by the luxurious Roman baths with their marble-lined pools and large mosaics. Ideally, take a guided tour to learn about its history. The Alhonoz Arab fortress, located 10 kilometres from Herrera, is another fascinating monument. The castle still preserves its walls, despite its state of disuse. Places to visit Shrine to La Concepción Santiago El Mayor Parish Church Herrera Thermae Site Municipal Museum of Ancient Medicine Cortijo de la Carrizosas and Shrine to Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Fátima Alhonoz Arab fortress Surroundings Herrera is 120 kilometres from Seville in the Sierra Sur region. Its municipal district, through which the River Genil River runs, borders the province of Córdoba to the east. Herrera enjoys a privileged location in the geographical centre of Andalusia.

Tourist offices

La Puebla de Cazalla Tourist Office

Natural areas

Los Castañares (The Chestnut Groves)

Located in the Sierra Norte Natural Park, the chestnut grove in Constantina is of great interest, as the chestnut is not a very common tree in the Sierra Norte. In addition to those found in Constantina, there are some spots in Cazalla de la Sierra and the odd isolated specimen in other places. This tree requires mild temperatures and high moisture, so in the municipality of Constantina it grows in the north, at an altitude of 600 to 800 m, in the shady areas of the mountainous terrain. Although the chestnut tree was introduced into the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans, it did not reach the Sierra Norte of Seville until the time of the Reconquest. It is distributed in small stands of about 1 hectare, in some cases mixed with cork oak, Portuguese oak, Pyrenean oak and shrubby vegetation. In the areas where the undergrowth is well developed, interesting fauna can be found, with species such as the mongoose, Montpellier snake, European grass snake and ocellated lizard. The chestnut tree is part of the forestry activity of the Natural Park, and its treatment is different depending on whether it is used to obtain fruit or rods. Those used to obtain rods to shake olive trees are small specimens and form the so-called chestnut clumps of up to 4 m in diameter that produce rods around them. These are collected in five-year rotations and treated in a traditional way. In the old days, chestnut wood was also used for beams and other building elements, and for barrel-making. Access is free. You can visit the area of Los Castañares by the marked path of the same name, a 7 km circular route, which starts from the Erillas road, at the end of Calle del Venero located in the town centre.

Municipalities

Santiponce

Santiponce, the symbol of Rome in Hispania Santiponce bears witness to the splendour of the first Roman city in Spain, Italica, popularly known as ‘Sevilla la vieja’. Its ruins attest to this city’s power, the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian, and a symbol of Rome in Hispania. It is today the finest legacy in Andalusia of its Roman past and only seven kilometres from Seville. Its privileged location in the Aljarafe has made Santiponce the ideal place to live. The town has another heritage treasure, the San Isidoro del Campo Monastery, around which the current town was founded. In the Middle Ages, Santiponce was located on the banks of the River Guadalquivir, where Seville’s Olympic Stadium now stands. Continuous floods caused the population to shelter in the Monastery, leading to the construction of the new Santiponce that exists today. If you wish to find out more about this thousand-year-old town, come and live the essence of this unique spot, where the past has contributed to its current greatness. Getting to Santiponce If you go from Seville by car, take the SE-30 ring road towards Mérida until exit 808 and then enter the N-630 until your destination. By train, take line C5 from Santa Justa Station in Seville and get off at Valencina-Santiponce. You can then take a taxi to your destination. If you decide to take the bus, get on the M-170A line from Plaza de Armas Bus Station in Seville, which stops at Santiponce. Getting around Santiponce is a walking-friendly town. Given its small size, it is easy to explore on foot or, if you prefer, by bike. Reasons to visit You will be impressed by Italica’s splendour. It ruins have appeared in films and TV series. You have to sample the typical local dish, thrush rice. Do not miss the Aljarafe’s Stations of the Cross through Italica on the first Saturday of Lent, declared a National Tourist Interest. If you are a runner, sign up for the Italica International Cross Race and enjoy running in this unique setting. Moreover, if you like the performing arts, you cannot miss the Italica International Dance Festival at the beginning of July. Enjoy impressive shows in the Roman Theatre and Monastery. Visit San Isidoro del Campo Monastery and discover its beautiful works of art. What to see Santiponce’s most iconic attraction is Italica’s Archaeological Site. Book a guided tour to gain deeper insight into the greatness of this ancient city, a symbol of Rome in Hispania. You will experience one of few well-preserved Roman amphitheatres in Spain, and walk among the former streets of this city, admiring splendid mosaics, temples and thermal baths. Pay attention to the details as you explore ancient Italica. Each engraved stone has an interesting story or a unique significance that will help you understand the daily life of that period. After learning about Santiponce’s Roman past, head to the Gothic-Mudejar San Isidoro del Campo Monastery, Europe’s southernmost Cistercian convent. Enjoy the works of art that decorate its walls, including the valuable altarpiece by the baroque master Juan Martínez Montañés. This Monastery was the first monument in the province of Seville to be declared a Historic-Artistic Site. The Monastery took its name from San Isidoro, as legend has it that he was buried here until his remains were transferred to the Leon’s Collegiate Church in 1063. The Conquistador of Mexico, Hernán Cortés, was also buried here, although he now rests in the Aztec country. Another remarkable place to visit is the Fernando Marmolejo Municipal Museum, the goldsmith of Seville. The replicas of the Tartessian Lebrija candelabra and Seville’s Almohad keys are among the chief works of art he donated. The Augustus Roman Theatre, another civil monument to Italica’s splendour, can be found near the museum. To round-off your visit, sample the local cuisine in one of the restaurants. Allow yourself the luxury of enjoying thrush rice, a typical Santiponce dish. You will surely want to return another day for more. Places to visit Itálica Archaeological Site San Isidoro del Campo Monastery Roman Theatre Cotidiana Vitae, reenactment of daily life in ancient Rome Fernando Marmolejo Municipal Museum Surroundings Santiponce is 9 kilometres from Seville, within its metropolitan area, in the Aljarafe region. The municipality is built over the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Italica. It is part of the Silver Route and the Roman Baetica Route.

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Recommended plans

Heritage

Culture

Natural Areas

Active tourism

Tourism à la carte

How to get there and move around

Where to sleep

Maps and Publications

Tourist offices

Tourist Services Companies

Tapas

Wines and liquors

Olives and oil

Iberian pig products and cheese

Rice and bread

Sweetmeats and mantecados

Our province

Our towns

Recommended plans: The bellow