Holiday Apartment in Villamanrique De La Condesa: Culture, Rocío and Doñana

Villamanrique De La Condesa is considered a natural gateway to Doñana and combines access to this landscape with a strong cultural and pilgrimage tradition. Between a protected palace, the Centro de Interpretación Etnográfica Camino del Rocío and activities in Doñana Nature Park, the town presents a multifaceted character. Routes and activities are also part of the experience: a two-hour horseback ride and connections to visitor centres reveal different sides of the surrounding area.

Culture

The Palacio de Villamanrique de la Condesa de París combines the design of a traditional Andalusian country house with preserved palace remains of the Manríquez de Zúñiga family and French influences in its interior decoration. Together with its garden, the palace is protected as a site of cultural interest (BIC) in the category of historic monument. The garden has a romantic design and features fruit trees among clipped hedges, along with ornamental plants.

Nature

The Dehesa Boyal Visitor Centre is located in Doñana Nature Park. It is a centre for environmental education as well as a natural history centre. Its services include tourism services and catering facilities. From Villamanrique de la Condesa to the José Antonio Valverde Visitor Centre in Doñana, access by bicycle follows the same route as by car; the distance is approximately 25 kilometres each way.

Pilgrimage Tradition

The Centro de Interpretación Etnográfica Camino del Rocío is a museum exhibition space about the relationship between Villamanrique de la Condesa and its Primera y Más Antigua Hermandad del Rocío, the First and Oldest Brotherhood of Rocío, the Rocío pilgrimage and the passage of the brotherhoods through the town. The Camino del Rocío Museum is located on the site of the former Ermita de Santiago. This was the town’s first Christian church and was built in 1253.

The most important exhibit in the Camino del Rocío Museum is the “Simpecado Viejo”, an elongated red banner from the 16th century bearing the oldest known painting of the Virgin of Rocío. The Primera y Más Antigua Hermandad del Rocío de Villamanrique de la Condesa welcomes pilgrims and visitors throughout the year who wish to view the Simpecado. The connection between pilgrimage, brotherhood and local history is also reflected in the festival “Villamanrique, Paso de Hermandades”, which has a history spanning two hundred years.

Routes and Activities

The Primera y Más Antigua Hermandad del Rocío de Villamanrique de la Condesa was the first brotherhood to undertake the Rocío pilgrimage and establish the first Rocío route. Today, it is called “Camino de Villamanrique al Rocío”. Another way to experience the natural surroundings of Doñana is “Paseo a caballo en Villamanrique”: the two-hour horseback ride is suitable for all levels. In addition, the Hinojos–Villamanrique de la Condesa route connects the Los Centenales Visitor Centre in Hinojos with the La Dehesa Boyal Visitor Centre in Villamanrique de la Condesa.

Check the services included in each offer, the price components, and the booking and cancellation conditions directly there.

Other places: Osuna, Las Navas De La Concepción, Alcolea Del Río, Pedrera, Castilleja De La Cuesta, Palomares Del Rio, Villanueva Del Ariscal, Castilblanco De Los Arroyos.

For the higher-level travel overview: Seville.