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Sanlúcar la Mayor

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Sanlúcar la Mayor, the place of sunshine 

Sanlúcar la Mayor is a town in Seville’s Aljarafe with a wide range of tourist attractions. History, nature, good food and traditions await you in this corner of the Aljarafe, through which different civilisations have passed. 

You will find proof of its storied past in its historic centre, declared an Andalusian Site of Cultural Interest. It is part of the Al-Mutamid Route. It has a valuable architectural heritage, including the remains of the Arab wall, medieval churches and historical haciendas, now transformed into hotels or event venues. 

This Aljarafe town, through which runs the Guadiamar’s Green Corridor, has a beautiful landscape. Experience its beauty on a hiking, cycling or horse-riding route. You can also take a hot air balloon ride and enjoy stunning views of the Aljarafe region. 

Cuisine is another major attraction of Sanlúcar la Mayor. You will love the typical calderetas, guisos caseros or tapas in its bars, as well as its table olives, traditional mosto and the famous Sanlúcar regañás. 

Moreover, Europe’s largest solar power plant is located here due to a large number of sunlight hours in this area. It would seem that the Romans already knew this when they called the town Lucus Solis, the place of sunshine. 

Are you falling in love with Sanlúcar la Mayor? 


Getting to Sanlúcar la Mayor

To travel by car from Seville, take the A-49 motorway until exit 16. Now take the A-473, and you will reach your destination soon after. 
You can travel by train from Santa Justa Station in Seville. Take the C5 Cercanías line that stops at Sanlúcar la Mayor Station. You can also take the bus from Plaza de Armas Bus Station in Seville. The Metropolitan Bus Consortium runs the M-166 and M-165 lines. 


Getting around

Explore the old town, walk through its streets, go hiking along its routes and enjoy this beautiful Aljarafe town. You can bring your bike or go horse riding in its natural environment. 


Reasons to visit

  • Discover its architectural heritage and Mudejar-style churches. In San Eustaquio Church, ask about the legend of the Virgen de Fuentes Claras. It will surprise you. 
  • Discover two Hispanic Gothic gems, the sculptures of San Miguel Arcángel de Mercadante de Bretaña and the Cristo de San Pedro by an unknown sculptor. Both date from the 14th century. 
  • Experience the best music at the Festival Nacional de Música ‘Noches de San Pedro’ in July in which the Aljarafe Symphony Orchestra plays. An event with more than a decade of history.
  • You will be impressed by the beauty of Hacienda Benazuza, a former 10th-century Arab farmhouse.
  • Try Sanlúcar’s cuisine accompanied by crispy regañás, a local product highly popular across the region. 
  • Take a guided tour of Europe’s largest solar power plant. You will learn about renewable energy. 
  • Experience the Feria de Mayo, the first festival in the Aljarafe region and one of the oldest. You will enjoy the friendly atmosphere of its marquee tents, parading horses and delicious cuisine. 
  • Explore a route on the Guadiamar Green Corridor on foot or horse, or by bike. You will love its diverse landscape. 
  • Are you a thrill-seeker? Take a hot air balloon ride and discover Sanlúcar la Mayor from a bird’s eye view. An unforgettable experience. 


What to see 

Start your visit at the Plaza de San Pedro, where the Festival Nacional de Música ‘Noches de San Pedro’ takes place in July. San Pedro Church, the oldest temple in Sanlúcar la Mayor, stands here.

The church is a mixture of different architecture styles. It was initially an Arab mosque. The ablutions courtyard was transformed into a Christian cemetery, and the minaret tower has been preserved. Next to the church are the remains of the town’s defensive walls. They are from the Almohad period and had 46 defensive towers. A 65-metre section of wall and three towers in the Los Tejares ravine remain. 

Two minutes away on foot, on Calle Marquesa Viuda del Saltillo, is the 18th-century Cilla del Cabildo façade. The restored building is a typical Spanish Baroque stately house. There are several other noteworthy houses from this same period on this street.

Continue ahead to the Plaza de San Eustaquio, where you can visit the church that bears the name of Sanlúcar’s patron saint. This is the highest point in the town. It is widely believed that the Roman temple to Apollo, the sun god stood here. The existing church is Mudejar style, with the 15th-century Virgen de Fuentes Claras in its vestry. There is a fascinating legend about her.

Go to the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes and into the Town Hall to see the sculpture of San Miguel Arcángel, a unique Gothic artwork. This medieval gem is attributed to Lorenzo Mercadante de Bretaña, a famous 15th-century sculptor. Carved in one piece, there is only one other sculpture of San Miguel by this same artist in Spain in Barcelona. 

Near the town hall is the Santa María Church, also in Mudejar style. The church is home to magnificent paintings, sculptures and goldsmithing works. The Cristo de San Pedro in the baptismal chapel is the gem of this church. A Crucified Christ that is a Hispanic-Gothic masterpiece from the 14th century. 

San José Convent, better known as the Barefoot Carmelites, is next to this parish church. It was founded in 1590 during the reign of Felipe II. It is well worth a visit, not only to admire its architecture, but also the nuns’ work. They are currently restoring books for Seville’s Centre for Theological Studies and printing. 

If you go to Calle Corredera, you will find a school with striking architecture. It was designed by Aníbal González, who also designed Seville’s Plaza de España. You can go also visit Hacienda Benazuza, a unique building on Calle Virgen de las Nieves. A 10th-century Arab farmhouse now transformed into a 5-star hotel. It still preserves the chapel and part of the original building. 

End your visit exploring Sanlúcar la Mayor’s natural surroundings, including the Guadiamar Green Corridor. You can enjoy different routes on foot or horse, or by bike. 


Places to visit

  1. Arab Wall Site
  2. San José Convent (Barefoot Carmelite Order)
  3. Cilla del Cabildo Façade 
  4. Hacienda Benazuza, now a hotel
  5. San Eustaquio Church
  6. San Pedro Church
  7. Santa María Parish Church and its treasure
  8. Sculpture of San Miguel, Town Hall 
  9. Guadiamar Green Corridor
  10. Abengoa Solar Power Plant


Surroundings

Sanlúcar la Mayor is 23 kilometres from Seville in the west of the Aljarafe region. Its municipal district borders the province of Huelva and Guadiamar Green Corridor, a protected natural area that runs through its surroundings. 

Comarca
Aljarafe
Extension
135.40 Km²
Altitude
148.00 m
No. of inhabitants
13.683
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