Almensilla, in the south of Aljarafe
The charming town of Almensilla sits on the Mosto Route. Located on a plateau in the south of Aljarafe, the origins of this Sevillian town can be traced to a farmstead belonging to the Arab landowner Serra al-Mensi. Even today, some of the centuries-old haciendas built for harvesting olives and producing olive oil still stand. Indeed, table olive still is a staple of the local economy.
In recent years, many Sevillians have chosen Almensilla looking for the peace of the small-town living. Come and embrace the spirit of Almensilla, enjoy the atmosphere, explore the heritage and, of course, experience the delicious, varied cuisine. Remember, Almensilla is waiting for you. Would you like to learn more about this charming town in the south of Aljarafe?
Getting to Almensilla
If you are travelling from Seville by car, take the SE-30 ring road to exit 15A and enter the A-5058 road. A few metres to the right is the A-8057, which takes you to Mairena del Aljarafe. Take this road and follow the directions to cross this town. You will reach the A-5054 that takes you to Almensilla.
Almensilla does not have a train station, but there are two indirect train routes. The first option is to take the C5 Cercanías line from Santa Justa Station in Seville to Benacazón and then take a taxi. It will take about 25 minutes to get to Almensilla.
The other option is to take the Metro and get off at the Metromar stop in Mairena del Aljarafe. From there you can take a 15-minute taxi ride to Almensilla.
If you wish to travel by bus, take the M-153 line from Paseo de las Delicias Station in Seville.
Getting around
- Wander through the streets and discover the town’s charming artistic heritage. Stroll through the squares, taking in the peacefulness of this little gem in the Aljarafe. If you have a bike, you can also cycle around the town.
- Reasons to visit
- If you want to find out about Almensilla’s history, visit its centuries-old haciendas, such as San Antonio, Quinta, Majalcofar and Santo Patriarca.
- Enjoy the mosto in a local bar served with some excellent local olives.
- Do you have a sweet tooth? Try the sugar-coated fried dough typically eaten at the festivals here.
- Visit the charming Shrine to San Diego de Alcalá, the patron saint of Almensilla, and find out about the three annual festivals that the town celebrates in his honour. At the La Tostá, which takes place in November, mosto and toasted bread with sardines steal the show.
What to see
When visiting Almensilla, enjoy the essence of an Andalusian town known for its olive-growing tradition and haciendas. Start your tour through the town in Plaza de la Iglesia, where you will find the Town Hall, famous for its iron belfry with a clock. You can visit the town’s main temple, Nuestra Señora de la Antigua Church of Mudejar origin. The church houses the statue of the patron saint, to whom it is devoted. If you go in summer, you will also see another of the town’s patron saints, San Diego de Alcalá, who is taken to his shrine in October to spend the winter months there.
Attached to this parish church is the well-preserved Hacienda de San Antonio. Look for a ceramic tablet on the façade. It records the donation of 100 hectares of land by King Felipe IV to Don Francisco Fernández Marmolejo, the owner of the estate, in 1640.
Just two minutes away from the centre of town is Hacienda de Quinta, on Calle Virgen de la Antigua. The manor and oil mill are very well preserved, and there are even some Visigoth remains. It can be argued, therefore, that the town of Almensilla probably originated here.
On the outskirts of the town, you can visit two more haciendas, Majalcofar and Santo Domingo. One monument not to be missed is the Shrine to San Diego de Alcalá, where the statue of the patron saint is kept during the winter. The area, surrounded by pine groves, is stunning. The pilgrimage in his honour is held here on the first Sunday in May. On 13 November, the traditional ‘Tostá’ takes place in honour of the saint’s day. The locals spend the day in the countryside eating bread with sardines and drinking good local mosto.
Places to visit
- Town hall/clock tower
- Shrine to San Diego
- Hacienda de Quinta
- Hacienda del Santo Patriarca
- Hacienda San Antonio
- Nuestra Señora de la Antigua Church
Surroundings
Almensilla is only 17 kilometres from Seville. Located in the south of the Aljarafe region, Almensilla is situated among the towns of Mairena del Aljarafe, Palomares del Río, Coria del Río and Bollullos de la Mitación, and borders the Coto de Doñana marshlands.
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