La provincia de Sevilla

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Life and landscape in a diverse and monumental province

Guadalquivir-Doñana Region

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This region has 24 towns, with the River Guadalquivir running through them. Here you will enjoy a diverse landscape divided into two areas, La Vega and Las Marismas-Bajo Guadalquivir, both of outstanding natural beauty. 

Enjoy beautiful sunsets on the banks of the River Guadalquivir and its impressive marshes, the gateway to Doñana National Park. Taste the best that the land on the banks of this river provides; in La Vega it has oranges, and in La Marisma, rice fields. Follow the Rice Route, where you will taste delicious dishes made with this marshland product. Alternatively, sample flathead grey mullet, carp and other fish from the River Guadalquivir. 

Visit the historical legacy of the great civilisations that populated this fertile riverside region. Only then will you learn about the customs and traditions of its people. Marked by a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, demonstrated in its centuries-old pilgrimages and the annual pilgrimage to the Virgin del Rocío’s shrine. 

Discover the Sevillian towns that are part of the Route of the Order of the Knights of Malta, with significant monuments and medieval works. And discover the charm of this land that inspired Blas Infante, the ‘father of Andalusian nationalism’. 


Climate 

This region has a Mediterranean climate that is mild and temperate. The winter months are usually relatively wet, and summers are dry. Most significantly, the climate is dry during the three summer months. 


Surroundings

The River Guadalquivir that passes through the province of Seville divides the region into two areas, La Vega and Las Marismas-Bajo Guadalquivir. The land in La Vega is characterised by fruit trees, olive groves and cereal crops. Market gardens predominate in the lower part of the river, with rice fields occupying the marshes. 


This diverse landscape has resulted in a large variety of flora and fauna along the course of the River Guadalquivir. This can be seen in the Sevillian part of Doñana Natural Park, in the Lebrija-Las Cabezas Endorheic Complex and the wetlands of Los Palacios y Villafranca.

The towns that form part of La Vega del Guadalquivir are Alcalá del Río, Alcolea del Río, Cantillana, El Cuervo, La Algaba, Lora del Río, La Rinconada, Brenes, Burguillos, Tocina-Los Rosales, Peñaflor, Villaverde del Río and Villanueva del Río y Minas. 

The Las Marismas and El Bajo Guadalquivir area comprise the towns of Aznalcázar, Coria del Río, Gelves, Isla Mayor, Villamanrique de la Condesa, Dos Hermanas, Los Palacios y Villafranca, La Puebla del Río, Pilas, Las Cabezas de San Juan and Lebrija. 


Getting to Guadalquivir-Doñana

The Autovía del Sur, A-4, runs through the province of Seville, in the La Vega and the El Bajo el Guadalquivir areas. This motorway links with the different roads that will take you to the towns in both regions. 
However, to reach the towns near Las Marismas, go to Seville and take the A-5058 road, parallel to the River Guadalquivir. 
If you come from Huelva, on the A-49, you will find different exits towards the towns of Las Marismas without having to go through Seville. 
If you travel by train, C1 Cercanías Renfe line from Seville stops in the towns of Lora del Río, Brenes, La Rinconada, Dos Hermanas, Las Cabezas de San Juan and Lebrija. 
As for buses, Seville’s Metropolitan Transport Consortium offers different lines to travel to these three areas in the province. 


Getting around

Go hiking around the Guadalquivir, or explore different routes by bike or on horse. You can also go on a boat trip along the river, an activity offered by towns such as Gelves and Coria del Río, among others. 

And if you like sports, canoeing along the Guadalquivir is very popular in this Sevillian region. 


Reasons to visit

  • The beauty of the lands through which the River Guadalquivir flows and its diverse landscape will make your visit an unforgettable one. Enjoy the beautiful sunsets that the River Guadalquivir has to offer, while you relax or go fishing. You will be impressed by the grandeur of the marshes and their rice fields. Visit Doñana National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Learn about the different birds you will find at La Cañada de los Pájaros, in the Lebrija-Las Cabezas Endorheic Complex, and in the wetlands of Los Palacios y Villafranca.
  • Taste the varied cuisine of the Guadalquivir-Doñana region, from the many dishes of the Rice Route to culinary innovations, with oranges being the main one. Sample also the delicious tomatoes from Los Palacios and river fish such as that served at the Fiesta del Albur in Coria. 
  • Follow the Route of the Order of the Knights of Malta to learn about the history of some towns in La Vega del Guadalquivir. Admire the stately homes and centuries-old haciendas of this riverside land. Visit the remains of ancient Roman cities, such as Celti in Peñaflor and Mulva-Munigua in Villanueva del Río y Minas. Or stroll along the town founded by King Alfonso XIII in Isla Mayor, where families from different parts of Spain live. 
  • Experience the festivals and traditions of its people, such as the passing of the wagons through Vado del Quema in Aznalcázar and the meeting of the Virgin del Rocío confraternities in Villamanrique de la Condesa. Experience the devotion to the Virgin Mary in this region, with centuries-old pilgrimages declared of National Tourist Interest. Examples include the Pilgrimage to the Virgin del Valme in Dos Hermanas, that of the Convent in Villanueva del Río and Virgin of Setefilla in Lora del Río. 
  • If you are a bullfighting fan, you will love Cantillana’s Plaza de Toros, with a century of history. Also, in September, is the Fiesta de los Toros de la Algaba, in which the running of heifers is a tradition. And to see fighting bulls up close, go to Lora del Río, where the most famous bulls in the world, the Miura bulls, are bred on a farm.
  • However, if you are looking to practise sports, this region offers an endless number of activities, from hiking along its nature trails to cycling and horse riding. You can also do canoeing on the River Guadalquivir, as well as fishing for flathead grey mullet or carp. The largest river marina in southern Europe is in Gelves. 
  • And sign up for the popular races that the towns in the region hold every year. For example, the Gran Premio de Atletismo event in Alcolea del Río, the Duathlon Cross in Las Cabezas de San Juan and the International Half Marathon in Los Palacios y Villafranca. 
  • Flamenco can also be experienced up close in this region any time of year. Do not miss the La Zambombá Navideña in Las Cabezas de San Juan, the Juan Talega Flamenco Festival in Dos Hermanas or the Cante Jondo La Naranja Festival in Brenes. 


What to see 

In the Guadalquivir-Doñana region, you will discover a valuable historical heritage from the great civilisations that crossed the River Guadalquivir. You will find ceramic pieces from ancient times in the Archaeology and Palaeontology Museum in La Rinconada. You will be amazed walking through the streets of the ancient Roman town of Mulva-Munigua in Villanueva del Río y Minas. 

The Al-Andalus architecture is still present in the Morería de Peñaflor neighbourhood. A town that, after the Christian conquest, honoured its two holy martyrs building a chapel in the cave where a flower bloomed, according to legend. Hence the name of this town. You will also love the legend of the town of Dos Hermanas, closely linked to the cave where the statue of Santa Ana is kept. 

To learn about the region’s medieval history, follow the Route of the Knights of the Order of Malta. You will visit convents and mansions in Lora del Río, built by this religious community, and San Vicente Mártir Church in Tocina-Los Rosales. 

However, if you want to learn about the origin of the autonomous community of Andalusia, you should go to Coria del Río. Here you will find the House of Blas Infante, the father of Andalusian nationalism, as well as the Museum of Andalusian Autonomy. 

As regards industrial tourism, the miners’ district and the Number 5 shaft from which coal was extracted are still standing in Villanueva del Río y Minas. It is worth learning about this gruelling work, which was the economic engine of the town for centuries. 

Another fascinating place is the town founded by Alfonso XIII, in Isla Mayor. It bears the name of the king who founded it in 1927 to provide accommodation for the Spaniards who came to this land looking for work in the rice fields in the marshes. 

These are just some of the heritage gems of the region. There are many more, so take some time to discover them. 


Places to visit

  1. Dam, Hydroelectric Plant and Winthuysen Gardens (Alcalá del Río)
  2. Doñana National Park
  3. Gelves River Marina
  4. Route of the Order of the Knights of Malta
  5. Rice Route
  6. La Cañada de los Pájaros (La Puebla del Río)
  7. Lebrija-Las Cabezas de San Juan Endorheic Complex
  8. Blas Infante’s House (Coria del Río)
  9. Museum of Andalusian Autonomy (Coria del Río)
  10. Town founded by Alfonso XIII (Isla Mayor)
  11. Plaza de Toros and Bullfighting School in La Algaba
  12. Archaeology and Palaeontology Museum (La Rinconada)
  13. Aeropolis Aerospace Technology Park (La Rinconada)
  14. Shrine to the Virgin de Setefilla (Lora del Río)
  15. Mulva-Munigua Roman Archaeological Site (Villanueva del Río y Minas)
  16. Las Minas de la Reunión and Number 5 Shaft (Villanueva del Río y Minas)
  17. San Pedro Apóstol Church (Peñaflor)
  18. Shrine to the Holy Martyrs (Peñaflor)
  19. Shrine to Belén (Pilas)
  20. Shrine to Our Lady of Valme (Dos Hermanas)
  21. Santa Ana Chapel, the patron saint, and cave where her statue can be found (Dos Hermanas)
  22. La Corchuela Peri-urban Park (Dos Hermanas)

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