Holiday apartment in Gerena – Granite history and Andalusian landscape

Gerena combines a history shaped by granite, Roman remains and the landscape between the Sevillian Campiña and the Sierra Morena. The Museo del Cantero offers a self-guided tour with explanatory panels, tools, audiovisual materials and photo exhibitions on the extraction, processing and marketing of granite.

Culture and History

The historic points of interest also include the Fuente de los Caños. It was restored in 1883, preserving the seating areas and the spring’s two outlets. Its complex also includes a first collection basin from Roman times, known as the fuente vieja, as well as thermal baths. The remains of Gerena’s Roman wall date from the 1st century and once surrounded the settlement’s core.

The Palacio del Marqués de Albaserrada is a Casa-Cortijo built at the beginning of the 17th century on a large rock. The Iglesia Parroquial de la Purísima Concepción contains Mudéjar arches between the two parts of the church and a wooden Artesonado ceiling. The Capilla de la Soledad Coronada, a single-nave Mudéjar building, is also part of the historic built heritage. It was formerly a hermitage and a hospital for travelers, was probably built at the beginning of the 16th century, and stood within Gerena’s former wall.

The Basílica Paleocristiana is located on the Camino de la Basílica, s/n in Gerena. Historically, it is associated with pilgrims on the southern route of the Camino de Santiago.

Nature and Trails

The Mirador de las Canteras is located on a hill above the town. From the square laid out there, views extend across large parts of Gerena, the quarries and the Sevillian Campiña. The agricultural landscape area of Gerena and Olivares includes olive groves, dryland farming and scattered wooded areas. Gerena lies between the Campiña and the Sierra Morena and is suitable for hiking and cycling tours.

A specific route is the approximately 3 km-long Ruta de Rompezapatos. It begins on the road from Gerena to El Garrobo and ends at the Rompezapatos estate, by a small stream between oleanders and holm oaks. Along the Ruta de Rompezapatos, olive trees, blossoming almond trees, cork oaks, holm oaks and eucalyptus trees grow, among others; there is also lavender, rosemary, rockrose, poppies and other wildflowers.

Festivals and Local Cuisine

The Feria y Fiestas Patronales de Gerena are the municipality’s most important festivities and take place in spring. The local feria is linked to a pilgrimage in honor of the Virgen de la Encarnación, the town’s patron saint. The Semana Santa de Gerena includes a procession that takes place each year alternately on Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday.

The Ruta de la Tapa de Gerena has also been held in several editions and involved local food establishments. In one edition, 17 establishments took part. Cultural and tourist activities took place alongside it, including tourist routes through Gerena’s town center and natural surroundings.

Transport Connections and Other Places

There is a regular bus service between Seville and Gerena operated by Paulino, S.L. It departs from the Plaza de Armas bus station in Seville.

For further destinations in the surrounding regional travel area, you can also visit Santiponce, Arahal, El Pedroso, Tomares, Villanueva Del Río Y Minas, Aguadulce, Villanueva Del Ariscal and Burguillos.

For the higher-level travel overview: Seville.