La provincia de Sevilla

Our province

Life and landscape in a diverse and monumental province

La Campiña Region

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Discover a region whose towns boast a rich culture and history. The landscape in La Campiña is characterised by flat fields of olive groves and crops. These groves produce the extra virgin olive oil that has won the most awards in the province of Seville, earning it the Estepa Designation of Origin. 

La Campiña is made up of 19 towns of great historical value. The large towns of Carmona, Osuna, Écija, Estepa and Utrera stand out for their architectural heritage and have been declared Historic-Artistic Sites. Follow in the footsteps of the romantic writer Washington Irving, who fell in love with Andalusia’s La Campiña, often using it as a setting for his books. Alternatively, follow the Route of the Castles to learn about the region’s medieval past. This will take you to the fascinating Alcalá de Guadaíra Castle, La Monclova Castle in Fuentes de Andalucía and Los Molares Castle, the latter of which becomes the venue for the town’s annual medieval market. 

Enjoy the rural cuisine, accompanied by the famous local bread. Visit the various convents and try the confectionery made by the nuns, as well as the internationally renowned mantecados from Estepa. Experience Holy Week in the different towns and admire the precious Renaissance and baroque sculptures, which are iconic throughout the province. Discover the tradition of confraternities listening to the music played by their centuries-old bands. 

This region is also the birthplace of Sevillian flamenco from where many of Spain’s all-time great singers come from. Pepe Marchena, Antonio Mairena, La Niña de la Puebla, La saga de los Pavones, Bambino and Enrique Montoya are just some of the artists born in Seville’s La Campiña. 


Climate 

This region has mild winters and sweltering hot summers, the hottest in the Iberian Peninsula. Most of La Campiña receives over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Annual rainfall is scarce, ranging from 500 mm to 700 mm.


Surroundings

The region of La Campiña is the largest in the province of Seville, characterised by fields of olive groves and cereal crops. La Campiña is located in the central and eastern part of the province and comprises of densely populated towns with great historical significance. It also has a wide variety of animals, especially livestock and birds. Do not miss the Lantejuela Endorheic Complex, a protected area where you can watch the white-headed duck, considered an endangered species. Visit also the Oromana Natural Park, a protected area, and Los Alcores Greenway. 


Getting to La Campiña

The A-92 motorway runs through La Campiña, connecting Seville with Málaga, Granada and Almería. Further north is the N-4 motorway that connects Seville with Córdoba. 

By train, the C1 Cercanías line from Seville stops in the town of Utrera. There are also medium-distance lines that connect Seville with Málaga and Almería, stopping at the stations in Arahal, Marchena, Osuna and Pedrera. 

If you decide to travel by bus, there are routes from Plaza de Armas and Prado de San Sebastián bus stations in Seville.


Getting around

Towns such as Osuna, Écija, Alcalá de Guadaíra and Mairena del Alcor all have intercity buses. Still, the best way to explore the heritage of the towns in La Campiña is to take them in on foot. This region also has various routes that are perfect for hiking, cycling or horse riding. 


Reasons to visit

  • Come and discover the towns with the richest heritage in the province of Seville. The age-old towns of Osuna, Écija, Utrera, Marchena, Alcalá de Guadaíra and Estepa have all been declared a Historic-Artistic Site.
  • Come and explore Osuna’s imposing old quarry known as ‘the Petra of Andalusia’ and step into the great Roman times in ancient Astigi, now Écija. In this town brimming with history, you will find the fountain that Paul of Tarsus used to baptise the Astigitans.
  • Follow the Route of the Castles to see massive medieval fortresses, which remain well preserved. Los Molares Castle, in particular, is in excellent condition. The town holds its annual medieval market here. Check out also the two castles in Alcalá de Guadaíra to discover their fascinating legends; Luna Castle in Mairena del Alcor, which has a museum inside; and the one in Utrera. 
  • Experience Holy Week in La Campiña, an event declared of National Tourist Interest. The valuable baroque sculptures that are paraded through the streets during Holy Week are a testament to the importance of this region during Spain’s Golden Age. Do not miss the musical bands that are also a big part of the local tradition. Many of them accompany the procession floats in Seville during Holy Week. Be sure to experience the beautiful Holy Week in Carmona, ‘Los Judíos’ in Alcalá de Guadaíra on Holy Thursday and the Fiesta de los Huevos Pintados in Cañada Rosal on Easter Sunday. Last but not least, watch the Cristo de la Cárcel procession in Mairena del Alcor, one of the most impressive in the province. 
  • La Campiña also hosts some of the greatest ferias in Andalusia. The Feria de Abril, which is the oldest feria, is held in Mairena del Alcor. However, the ferias held in Écija, Osuna, Utrera and the Feria del Verdeo in Arahal, declared events of Tourist Interest, are also famous. 
  • This region is also famous for flamenco. Some of the great singers that were born here include Pepe Marchena, Antonio Mairena, La saga de los Pavones and Enrique Montoya. This is also where certain flamenco styles originated, such as the saetas moleeras and colombinas from Marchena, and the soleá from Alcalá de Guadaíra. These songs are still performed at various annual flamenco festivals held in the La Campiña towns. 
  • As for cuisine, La Campiña has a wide variety of dishes and tapas made with local products. Delicacies include the traditional guisos and potajes, the delicious confectionery made by the nuns, as well as the artisan bread and the mollete marchenero. Try also the popular aldeanas from Osuna, the mostachón from Utrera, the yemas from Écija, and of course the mantecados from Estepa. Also noteworthy are the Estepa Designation of Origin extra virgin olive oil and the aceitunas prietas from Arahal. 
  • Last but not least, enjoy the natural surroundings of La Campiña and the many routes it has to offer through the fields of olive groves and cereal crops. Los Alcores Greenway and Oromana Natural Park can also both be found in La Campiña. If you are interested in birding, head to the Lantejuela Endorheic Complex where you can watch different endangered bird species.


What to see 

Discover the valuable architectural heritage that the age-old towns in La Campiña have to offer, especially Carmona, Osuna, Écija, Estepa and Utrera, which have been declared Historic-Artistic Sites. If you visit Osuna, do not miss the Collegiate Church, the old quarry popularly known as ‘the Petra of Andalucia’ and Calle San Pedro, recognised by UNESCO as the second most beautiful street in Europe. 

Discover the region’s Roman past by strolling through Écija or visiting its Archaeological Museum. Here you will see the ‘Amazona herida’, the only sculpture of its kind in Spain from the 2nd century A.D. Continue exploring the Roman splendour at the Amphitheatre and Necropolis in Carmona. 

Follow the Route of the Castles and learn about La Campiña’s medieval past. Find out about this period at Luna Castle in Mairena del Alcor, the Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro and the Parador in Carmona, and the Castles in Alcalá de Guadaíra and Los Molares, among others. Discover also two very recent towns, Cañada Rosal and La Luisiana, created in the 18th century by King Carlos III. 

The region has many palaces, convents and churches, a testament to the economic boom of the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, Utrera is home to the Iglesia de Consolación, where the image of Our Lady of Consolation is venerated. The pilgrimage in her honour was the largest in Spain; however, it was forbidden in the 18th century. There are also other outstanding works such as the oil painting of The Penitent Magdalene by El Greco in Paradas, and nine paintings by the great baroque artist Francisco de Zurbarán in Marchena. 

Walk up to the Cerro de San Cristóbal de Estepa to enjoy the best views of La Campiña. There is a viewpoint here popularly known as ‘The Balcony of Andalusia’. Take a stroll through the beautiful streets to discover its valuable heritage. However, if you want to find out more about the splendour of this region during Spain’s Golden Age, head to the Baroque Interpretation Centre in Fuentes de Andalucía. 

Given that La Campiña was formerly a land of lordships; each town boasts a rich culture, heritage, history and impressive monuments. Those mentioned here are just some of the gems La Campiña has to offer. Come and discover what more the region has in store. 


Places to visit

  1. Oromana Natural Park
  2. Route of the Castles through La Campiña
  3. Washington Irving Route
  4. Los Alcores Greenway
  5. Necropolis in Carmona
  6. Churches, convents, palaces and museums in Écija
  7. Osuna Collegiate Church
  8. Calle San Pedro in Osuna
  9. Cerro de San Cristóbal in Estepa
  10. New Towns Interpretation Centre (Cañada Rosal)
  11. Los Alcores Greenway
  12. Baroque Interpretation Centre (Fuentes de Andalucía)
  13. Lantejuela Endorheic Complex
  14. Los Molares Castle
  15. Luna Castle (Mairena del Alcor)
  16. La Mota neighbourhood and wall (Marchena)
  17. Former Quarry (Osuna)
  18. Amphitheatre and Necropolis (Carmona)
  19. Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro (Carmona)
  20. Carmona Parador 

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