Nearby
natural parks
Along
the Autovía (motorway) de los Descubrimientos, in the direction
of Huelva, the traveller reaches the National Park of Doñana in
about an hour. It is the largest aviary reserve in Europe, located next
to the river's mouth, on the right-hand bank. Its richness is the result
of good climatic conditions and its geographic location along the bird
migration routes. It encompasses three different ecosystems: sand dunes,
pastures and swamps.
El
Acebuche Information Center, Matalascañas (Huelva). Phone. 959.44.87.11.
The
biological reserve of the Natural Park of the Aracena Sierra and the Aroche
peaks is located at the Western end of the Sierra Morena. Its vegetation
consists of thick forests of chestnut, cork and oak trees. It is a good
area for hunting big game and climbing. It is dotted with mountains villages
such as Alajar, Castaño del Robledo and Aracena, with its castle
and Grotto of Marvels. The nearby lakes of Aracena and Zufre offer facilities
for fishing and water sports.
Natural
Park of Sierra de Aracena Office: Plaza de Santa Lucia, 23. Phone. 95.911.04.75.
Interesting
towns and cities
The
remains of the Roman city of Itálica are another must-see
visit, today located in the town of Santiponce, 10 minutes from the capital.
Founded by the general Scipio, this ancient city gave two emperors to Rome,
Troian and Hadrian. The area open to the public includes the neighborhood
built by Hadrian, a theatre located in the old centre and a modern park
surrounding the amphitheatre, one of the largest of the Roman empire with
capacity for 25,000 spectators. The Archaeology Museum of Seville exhibits
some mosaics and a large number of sculptures and other objects from Itálica.
Archaeological Complex of Itálica. Phone. 95.599.73.76.
The
National IV motorway, in the direction of Córdoba, takes the traveller
to the Campiña, the most fertile and heavily populated region of
the province, with a great number of monuments. 30 km from Seville lies
the town of Carmona, at the centre of the province. Established
by the Phoenicians, it later became an important Roman city, as shown by
its Necropolis. Other interesting monuments are the Roman Amphitheater,
the Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla, of Moorish origin, the Alcázar
Almohade of the King don Pedro, today site of a Parador de Turismo (State
Hotel), with a tower similar to that of the Giralda. The city preserves
the atmosphere of an Arab medina, with narrow streets full of religious
buildings and splendid palaces, one of which houses the hotel Casa de Carmona.
Tourist
Information: Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla .
Phone.
954 19 09 55. ( http://www.turismo.carmona.org
)
In
the border with the province of Córdoba stands the city of sun and
towers, Écija, 88 km from Seville. A rich grain village,
bathed by the river Genil, it was a Phoenician and then a Roman settlement.
It preserves an interesting collection of mosaics from the latter period.
The city reached its greatest glory during the 17th and 18th centuries
during which it acquired the name of "city of the towers." Today it preserves
11 towers, 15 steeples and a large number of temples, palaces, and miradors
which make it the province's richest trove of monuments. Its religious
monuments include the churches of Santa María, San Gil and the Convento
de los Descalzos. Other interesting architectural sites include the beautiful
miradors and the palaces of the Marqueses of Peñaflor and the Condes
de Valverde.
Tourist
Information. Plaza de España, 1. Phone. 95.590.13.16, Ext. 53 (From
9 a. m. to 3 p. m.).
Osuna
is located 80 kms. from Seville along the highway A-92 N-334, in the direction
of Antequera. It is a ducal village which came to prominence in the 16th
century, period in which its most important monuments, the Colegiata and
the University, were built. It has a small archaeological museum in the
Torre del Agua and an assortment of palaces of the 16th, 17th and 18th
centuries.
Tourist
Information. Plaza Mayor. Phone. 95.481.61.17.
Estepa
is located along the same highway, 110 km. from Seville, and its tower
overlooks the surrounding countryside. It maintains a walled area and a
number of religious constructions. It is famous for its mantecados (lard
cakes).
Tourist
information. Plaza del Carmen, 1. Phone. 95.591.27.17. |
