Holiday apartment in Acalá Del Río – Roman heritage on the Guadalquivir

Acalá Del Río combines Roman heritage, Mudéjar architecture and the riverside landscape of the Guadalquivir. Between archaeological remains, religious buildings, a historic dam and a freely accessible riverside area, a varied townscape emerges with links to the history of Ilipa Magna.

Culture

At the Centro de Interpretación de la Muralla Romana de Ilipa Magna on Calle Sol, the second room introduces Roman Alcalá del Río, ancient Ilipa Magna. The centre can be visited individually or in groups by prior registration at the Casa de la Cultura. The Nuevo Espacio Museístico Alcalá del Río additionally presents the history of the town using display panels, photographs and archaeological remains. The municipal archaeological collection at the Casa de la Cultura comprises almost 1,000 pieces dating from the Neolithic to the present day, including coins, ceramics and tools, with a particular focus on Roman heritage. A Roman mosaic has also been preserved at Plaza de España: the Opus Tesselatum dates from the 2nd or 3rd century AD.

History

The La Angorrilla archaeological site lies near the historic centre of Alcalá del Río. It includes a Chalcolithic settlement with around 100 silos built into marl and terrace deposits. During the Chalcolithic period, La Angorrilla was used as a settlement, and in Tartessian and Roman times as a necropolis. The Roman town walls of Alcalá del Río are protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). They were built around the 1st century and reach a height of more than 8 metres in places.

The Church of Santa María de la Asunción is a Mudéjar building from the early 14th and 15th centuries. Its tower stands on a Roman defensive structure; the interior contains works by Duque Cornejo, Roque Balduque, Hernando de Esturmio and Francisco Antonio Gijón. The Mudéjar Ermita de San Gregorio de Osset was built at the end of the 15th century on the orders of the Catholic Monarchs. It contains a tomb with a Visigothic inscription holding the remains of Saint Gregorio de Osset the Confessor, as well as chapels belonging to the Vera-Cruz and Soledad brotherhoods, where their sacred images are venerated. The Casa Hermandad - Museo de la Soledad preserves an artistic heritage assembled by the Hermandad de la Soledad over almost five centuries. Alcalá del Río’s Holy Week, celebrated annually, is also part of the local tradition and religious faith and is recognised as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional de Andalucía.

River and landscape

As the Guadalquivir flows through Alcalá del Río, it is bordered by lush vegetation and home to a diverse range of waterfowl. Access to the Bajo Guadalquivir riverside area is free, including from Parque de la Loberilla. Albur, carp and largemouth bass are fished on the banks of the Guadalquivir and in the reservoir near Alcalá del Río.

The Alcalá del Río dam complex forms part of the hydraulic engineering heritage. It comprises a reservoir with sluice gates, a hydroelectric power station, an operational bridge on piers, a road bridge and a lock. Construction of the dam began in summer 1928; it was the first hydraulic dam with sluice gates built in Spain. As part of the hydroelectric power station complex, Javier de Winthuysen designed the Winthuysen Gardens in 1931. They are considered a historic garden in an industrial landscape and cover approximately 3,062 m². To access them, the weir must be crossed, as the gardens are on the opposite bank of the river from the town centre.

Routes and connections

Stage 6 of the Camino Benedictino is a named route between Alcalá del Río, Villaverde del Río and Brenes. Bus route M-115 connects Alcalá del Río with La Rinconada and Seville.

For holiday apartment offers in Acalá Del Río, you can compare the exact location, accommodation type, occupancy, included services, price components, and booking and cancellation conditions before booking. This keeps the details of each offer clearly separate from the information about the town.

Further destinations for your regional planning: La Luisiana, Écija, Los Palacios Y Villafranca, Guadalcanal, La Lantejuela, Mairena Del Aljarafe, Palomares Del Rio, El Viso Del Alcor.

For the higher-level travel overview: Seville.