Una ruta cultural por la historia, las tradiciones, la gastronomía y la naturaleza de diez enclaves patrimoniales por el interior de Andalucía
Several sections of Écija’s medieval wall have been preserved and some of its gateways can be recognised. Of the fourteen gateways documented, four originate from the Roman layout, and therefore connect the two main roads in the town. The first road goes from east to west, from the Puerta del Puente gateway to the Puerta Cerrada gateway. It is extremely interesting given the variety of historic sites and picture-perfect spots found along its length. The Torre del Carmen tower, a stretch of wall, La Cárcel and Ciudad Real buildings, the ancient inn and stone fountain can be observed along this road and provide an evocative setting: the sound of water from the fountain, the breeze and shade from the trees and impressive buildings. The second road stretches from north to south of the town, from the Puerta de Palma gateway to the Puerta de Osuna gateway. Its location is historically interesting, given the Moorish wall ruins. This stretch once provided access to the Moorish fortified town, known as Bab Usuna. The rest of the gateways documented originated in the Almohad era, and others were later than the Christian era. Several stretches of wall have also been preserved, the most emblematic are in Calle Alcázar, Cavilla, […]
puerta cerrada Écija, españa
The convent’s construction started in 1649 in a place known as the Cruz de Berral, a street that linked the calle Luna with calle Aguilar. Francisco Gil de Melgar, a local man from Puente Genil, a canon of Seville’s cathedral church and very respected man during his times left money in his will to construct the convent. The church was constructed between 1649 and 1692; this last date appears on a console on the side portal. The interior was decorated from this date: the altarpiece and sides were created before 1738 by the altarpiece sculptor, Felix Pérez de Mena, from Aguilar de la Frontera. The San Antonio altarpiece was created in 1748 by a sculptor from Lucena, Pedro de Mena Gutiérrez. It is a baroque church with a Latin cross floor plan: on its sides it has niches with small, yet interesting baroque altarpieces, which house the following images San Francisco de Asís, San Antonio, Santa Bárbara, the Virgen del Pilar, San Marcos and Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, the church’s incumbent image. This building’s inside walls were completely decorated with decorative paintings. Now, only the ones on the dome and the four Evangelists medallions remain. There is a collection […]
C/ Aguilar,1, puente-genil
Roman Villa from the 1st to 4th centuries AD The villa is remarkable due to its extremely interesting mosaics, some of which are the most important figurative and geometric mosaics in Spain. It is believed that this villa’s first settlement corresponds to the 1st century AD, remaining until the start of the Moorish domination. There is proof however that it was most significant during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The unique figurative mosaics are impressive and are associated with important, large wall structures.
CV-297, 45A,puente-genil
This ancient convent was built in the mid-17th century and can be found to the south of the Parque de los Álamos. After 1835, with the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizabal, it was converted into private housing and an olive oil factory. The Renaissance façade was modified with an artistic double flight of steps and wide windows. On the interior, only the basic church structure remains, which consists of a single nave with side chapels and a vestibule at the atrium. It is currently the home to the Archive and town library.
C/ Obispo Ceballos, 1,Alcalá la Real
This building dates back to the eighteenth century. It once belonged to the silk association and its architectural and decorative features are proof of the importance that the silk trade once had in Écija. The upper floor structure is similar to that of the town’s viewing balconies. The building was recently restored and the façade was returned to its original colour.
C/ Mas y Prat,Écija
It was founded by Juan Téllez Girón, 4th Count of Ureña. He obtained the papel bull to erect the ancient parish church in Collegiate, dedicated to Asunción. The exterior of the church has three portals. The interior has a wide presbytery. Construction of the Ducal Pantheon, inside the Collegiate, is thought to have started in around 1545; the chapel was consecrated 10 years later. It was founded by Juan Téllez Girón and is plateresque in style. It adjoins to the Collegiate and has three main nuclei: the Patio of the Ducal Tomb, the Chapel and the Pantheon. The museum’s main room is located in the former sacristy of the collegiate. It displays an impressive collection of Ribera’s works and a many pieces of silverware.
Plaza de la Encarnación, 4,Osuna
The San Juan museum is located within the San Juan church (16th and 17th century), found on calle Rosario. It houses the icon of Cristo de la Salud. This museum allows visitors to see interesting samples of Alcalá la Real’s religiosity, alongside elements that are characteristic of biblical diorama, such as “rostrillos” to give character to biblical figures, typical of Easter Week in Alcalá. Contact: Antonio Pérez Rosales.
Placeta San Juan, 4,Alcalá la Real
It was created by the Ministerial Order of 15 January 1973, with its headquarters within the Town Hall. In 1984, it moved to the building where the Bank of Spain was installed, currently the Casa de Cultura, and has remained here ever since. We enter the museum passing through a wrought-iron gate flanked by four red marble columns from Cabra. It covers most of the lower floor, exposing materials around the “Patio of Columns”, named so given the ten red vein marble columns. The exhibits were received from excavations carried out at the “Villa of Mithra” and “La Veleña”, fortuitous findings, surface extractions, some donations and others purchased. They have been arranged in chronological order: from Paleolithic era until current times. All are proof of the importance of Cabra and its surrounds over the history of time.
C/ Martín Belda, 23,Cabra
Aceites Florencio Aguilera is a family business which produces high quality olive oils, opting for the early oil of the Picual variety. The family olive mill is located in the hamlet of La Hortichuela, 12 km from Alcalá la Real, in the small town of Pilas de Fuente Soto. It is an enclave in the heart of nature, surrounded by a forest of olive trees and where families who have traditionally worked the land and farmed livestock live. This is where you can find the heart of Aceites Florencio Aguilera. The company offers walks around the olive grove estate and tasting of local products, sampling of olive oil and tour of the olive mill. * Tour of Gastronomic and Rural Experiences. 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, October 2022. VISIT TO THE FLORENCIO AGUILERA OLIVE MILL. Extra virgin olive oil tasting paired with local products prepared with extra virgin olive oil. Reservations: contacto@aceitesflorencioaguilera.com Price: € 15 per person. Maximum 15-20 persons.
CXRQ+6V Pilas de Fuente Soto
The Roman amphitheatre dates back to the 1st century BC. Its excavations started in 1885 under the management of Fernández López and Jorge Bonsor. Part of the cavea or seating area are below the level of the Roman road (the ima and media cavea). According to calculations, there were a total of 30 tiers, which were excavated in the hill itself. This is the part that has been preserved, while the upper part, the summacavea, which was built, did not make it to our times. The different rooms needed for the shows would have been underground, i.e. the changing rooms, cages for the wild beasts, etc. The stands would have been covered in marble or some other noble material, and would have been decorated with a wealth of statues, as was normal for these buildings. The west façade had an entrance ramp, similar to those on each of the corners, which led to the exits or vomitoria. It is thought to have been used for shows with wild beasts or other artistic and cultural spectacles. Visits: opening hours and entrance fees
Av. Jorge Bonsor, 9,Carmona