Holiday Apartment in Carmona – Culture and Landscapes of the Alcor

Carmona is situated on a plateau of the Alcor above the fertile Guadalquivir Valley. Protected buildings, Roman remains and distinctive landscape features come together to create a multifaceted picture of this Andalusian town.

Culture

The protected buildings include the Convento de Santa Clara, which is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. The Convento de las Agustinas Descalzas de la Santísima Trinidad also holds this status. The Convento de la Santísima Trinidad comprises a church, choir, sacristy and cloistered rooms arranged around a central courtyard.

The Teatro Cerezo has been catalogued as a Bien de Interés Cultural because of its affiliation with the Modernisme movement and has been included in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage. At the same time, it serves as a public municipal cultural venue. Theatre performances, film screenings, festival speeches and other cultural events take place there. The Museo de la Ciudad de Carmona displays archaeological remains from the Palaeolithic, Chalcolithic, Turdetanian and Andalusian periods.

History

The Roman Necropolis of Carmona was used around the 1st and 2nd centuries. Cremation was the most common burial ritual there; the Tomb of the Elephant is one of the site’s particularly impressive tombs.

Built in Roman times, the Puerta de Córdoba was a crossing point of the Via Augusta through Carmona. The Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla rises above the Puerta de Sevilla and, together with it, forms an almost impregnable defensive complex. Carmona’s tourist information centre is also located in this alcázar.

West of the walled city, at Carmona’s highest point, stands the Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro, a Moorish fortress. Its terrace offers views of the plain known as the Vega de Carmona.

Nature

The Escarpe de los Alcores is a particularly impressive landscape formation with an elevation of between 100 and 220 metres. The Vía Verde de los Alcores also holds a special position: it follows the route of a disused railway line. Along this path, visitors can see mineral formations and Mediterranean vegetation on the Alcor.

The elevation, steep escarpment and layers of the Alcor make the area suitable for sports such as climbing and paragliding. A walk to the Puente Romano offers another perspective on the surroundings. Along the way, there are views of the Vega del Corbones, the cultivated fields and Carmona. The Puente Romano can be reached via a path along the ancient Roman road, which begins after leaving Carmona through the Puerta de Córdoba.

Cuisine

Tortas de almendras are among Carmona’s traditional desserts from the Andalusian and Mudejar-influenced cuisine. In the reception area of the Convento de Santa Clara, visitors can purchase sweets of Arab tradition made by the Poor Clares, as well as other baked goods mentioned there.

Other destinations: Constantina, Écija, Gerena, Valencina De La Concepción, Acalá Del Río, Las Navas De La Concepción, Alcalá De Guadaíra, San Juan De Aznalfarache

To the higher-level travel overview: Seville.