Carmona, Sevilla

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Quick Info 29,000 Residents   Health Clinic Hospital   Shops, Bars, Restaurants Schools   Municipal Pool   Golf Nearby Antequera 123km Málaga 180km Granada 230km Sevilla 45km   Atlantic Coast 1h30 Med Coast 2h   Bus Service 180km to Málaga   230km to Granada   45km to Sevilla

Location

Local Information

Ayuntamiento de Carmona Plaza del Salvador, s/n 41410 Carmona, Sevilla Telephone: 954-140-011 www.carmona.org

About The Area

Located on a low hill overlooking a fertile plain, Carmona is a picturesque, small town with a magnificent 15th century tower built in imitation of Seville's Giralda. This is the first thing you see and sets an appropriate tone for the place. Not surprisingly, given its proximity, Carmona shares a similar history to Seville, and was an important Roman city which, under the Moors was often governed by a brother of the Sevillan ruler. Later Pedro the Cruel built a palace within its castle which he used as his royal residence in the country. At the entrance to the town is the Puerto de Sevilla a grand if ruinous fortified gateway which leads to the historic old part of the city. Within the wall, narrow streets meander past Mudejar churches and Renaissance mansions. Up still further is the Plaza San Fernando which is comparatively small but dominated by splendid Moorish style buildings, behind here is a bustling fruit and vegetable market which, like all markets in Andalucia, appropriately reflects what is in season at any given time. Close by to the east is Santa Maria, a stately Gothic church built over the former main mosque, whose elegant patio is retained. Like many of Carmona's churches, it is topped by an evocative Mudejar tower and part of the original minaret may still be spotted. Dominating the ridge of the town are the massive ruins of Pedro's palace, destroyed by an earthquake in 1504 and now taken over by a gracious if expensive parador. To the left the town comes to an abrupt halt at the Roman Puerta de Córdoba from where the original Cordoba road drops down to a vast plain. The Roman necropolis is particular noteworthy. It lies on a low hill at the opposite end of Carmona amid cypress trees and contains more than nine hundred family tombs dating from the second century BC to the fourth century AD. Enclosed in subterranean chambers hewn from the rock, the tombs are often frescoed and contain a series of niches in which many of the funeral urns remain intact. Some of the larger tombs have vestibules with stone benches for funeral banquets and several retain carved family emblems. Opposite is a partly excavated ampitheatre. Carmona is a fascinating town and well worth a visit, whether you are a history buff or not. From Carmona is a 28km-long greenway to Alcalá de Guadaíra, the Vía Verde of the Hills, which you can go on foot, bike or horseback. Price Guide   Top