Carmona, a magical journey through history.
Are you looking for the best place to enjoy a getaway, a place teeming with culture and fascinating stories? Carmona is only 37 kilometres from Seville. A town where you will feel, breathe and experience its true essence. With every step you take along its streets, Carmona will transport you to a different period. From its Neolithic origins to Julius Caesar’s revolt in Rome in 69 BC, and the struggle after the Muslim invasion.
Carmona awaits you with myriad places, where you can enjoy its cuisine, people and bars. Natural landscapes and architecture combine to offer stunning views. That is the magic of one of the oldest towns in Andalusia. Visit Carmona and discover this charming town for yourself. It is only 30 kilometres from Seville.
Getting to Carmona
If you travel from Seville, take a bus at Prado de San Sebastián bus station and enjoy a 40-minute ride.
If you come by car from Madrid, Córdoba or Seville, take the N-IV/E5 motorway; from Granada or Málaga, take the A-92 highway to Arahal. Then take the SE- 216.
Getting around
Although there are a local bus and taxi service, we recommend walking around and enjoying the stroll. Carmona is meant to be explored.
Reasons to visit
- There is an unforgettable view from the 19th-century El Picacho Tower. This optical communications tower connected Madrid with Córdoba and Seville.
- You will find yourself surrounded by history. In just a few metres, you will be transported from the Neolithic period to the Roman era, the Middle Ages or the 1930s. It almost like magic!
- It is ideal for a weekend getaway -the Parador hotel, the fortresses, the convents- where you can enjoy its fantastic cuisine and cultural attractions.
- It is peaceful everywhere. A town with tradition and history that can be easily explored on foot. You will come across various convents, including La Concepción, Las Descalzas, Madre de Dios and Santa Clara.
- It is home to an amphitheatre and a necropolis, with the tomb of Servilia -the most magnificent traditional structure in the necropolis- and the tomb of the elephant, dedicated to Cybele and Attis.
- You cannot miss its Carnival in February. This deep-rooted festival was recovered in 1984. The festival revolves around the Concurso Provincial de Agrupaciones Carnavalescas.
- Carmona dresses up in spring, Holy Week, Las Mayas, La Feria and Corpus Christi. Holy Week, declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest since 1999, deserves a special mention.
- If you like flamenco, be sure to come in summer to the Concurso Nacional de Cante Flamenco ‘Ciudad de Carmona’.
- The festival in honour of the patron saint, Our Lady of Grace, is in September. Cultural, sports and musical activities are held, as well as the Virgen de Gracia Pilgrimage.
- Also in September is the San Mateo Pilgrimage, which commemorates the conquest of Carmona by the Christian King, Fernando III the Saint in 1247.
- If you have a sweet tooth, you will love the torta inglesa, a delicacy you will not be able to resist. If you prefer savoury food, be sure to try the alboronía or the delicious spinach with chickpeas.
- You will be amazed by the town’s natural surroundings. La Vega is inherent to the idiosyncrasy of the town. The Greenway that connects Carmona with Alcalá de Guadaíra will impress you with its lovely fields full of sunflowers and cereal. For those who are not experienced hikers, we highly recommend the Carmona-Cuevas de la Batida Circular Trail that starts at Puerta de Sevilla.
What to see
Start your visit in one of the most emblematic places of Roman architecture, the Puerta de Sevilla. It was part of the walls that once surrounded the town. Your next stop is the 15th-century San Bartolomé Church.
The market square, Town Hall and El Salvador Church are close by. The Rueda Palace should be easy to spot with its Tuscan and Ionic columns.
If you wish to learn about Carmona, go to the town’s museum. It is located in a former 16th-century palace of the Marqués de las Torres.
Charming examples of folk architecture can be found in the old quarters of Santiago, San Felipe and the Judería, now called San Blas.
Need a break? Head to La Plaza de Arriba, a former Roman forum that is still today the busiest public space in town. Enjoy the bars and restaurants that you will find here. Try alboronías, a delicious dish of Arab origin, made with pumpkin and courgette. Alternatively, sample the typical spinach with chickpeas. It is not just about sightseeing. Let yourself be embraced by the cuisine and lively atmosphere of Carmona’s streets.
Going back to Roman culture, be sure to visit the amphitheatre and the necropolis from Emperor Claudius’ time. The Necropolis Museum was the first ‘on-site museum’ in Spain. If you go ahead with this visit, we sure to visit the tomb of the elephant, a sanctuary dedicated to the gods Cybele and Attis.
Travel back in history to the 1930s when you go to the Cerezo theatre, where the traditional Carnival Musical Groups Contest takes place.
Do you love nature? The Los Pilares nature route awaits you. Start the route at El Pilar de Los Limones. You will come across the artisan liqueur and aniseed factory, where you enjoy the view of the Los Alcores Greenway.
Enjoy the history and tradition of Carmona, a town that offers much more than its fascinating past. Experience Carmona as a local, not just as a tourist.
Places to visit
- Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla
- Town Hall
- Marqués de las Torres Palace House
- Marqués de San Martín Palace House
- San Pedro Church
- Santiago Church
- El Salvador Church
- El Parador hotel Carmona
- Roman necropolis
- Santa María de la Asunción Priory and its Permanent Exhibition
- Santa María Church
- Town Museum
- Carmona necropolis (Archaeological Site)
- Cerezo Theatre
Surroundings
Carmona is in Seville’s La Campiña region, at the highest point of Los Alcores, with breath-taking views of La Vega. Guadajoz is a hamlet located about 12 kilometres from Carmona.
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