Sevilla Property - Zones and Maps - El Aljarafe and Sevilla City
Towns and Villages
- Sevilla
- Guillena
- Gerena
- Aznalcollar
- La Algaba
- Santiponce
- Castilleja de Guzman
- Camas
- Castilleja de la Cuesta
- Bormujoz
- San Juan de Alnazfarache
- Mairena del Aljarafe
- Gelves
- Palomares del Rio
- Almensilla
- Umbrete
- Gines
- Espartinas
- Valencina de la Concepcion
- Salteras
- Albaida del Aljarafe
- Olivares
- Villanueva del Ariscal
- Sanlucar la Major
- Castilleja del Campo
- Carrion de los Cespedes
- Huevar
- Pilas
- Benacazon
- Umbrete
- Bollullos de la Mitacion
Map of El Aljarafe and Sevilla City
The capital of Andalucía, Seville is a magnificent city, packed with culture and history. It has long attracted visitors lured here by its exotic atmosphere, grand buildings and by the reputation of the fun loving Sevillians themselves, many of whom live in the residential areas that have grown in the Aljarafe outside the centre of Seville. Beyond these residential areas lies the Aljarafe countryside, an agricultural area consisting of gently rolling hills planted with grapevines and olive trees. Scattered around the attractive countryside are the grand haciendas, the country mansions built by the nobility of Seville in the quieter farmlands near to the city.
Sevilla
The magnificent city of Sevilla, or Seville as it is known in English, is the capital of Andalucía and the 4th largest city in the whole of Spain. Sevillians themselves are characterised as warm, friendly people with a sharp sense of humour, fond of late hours and celebrations and proud of their Andalucían heritage.
Seville has a rich and interesting history. It has been inhabited over the centuries by the Greeks, the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians. During Roman domination, Seville was one of the most important towns in Roman Baetica. Julius Caesar lived for a while in the city and the famous Roman emperors Hadrian and Trajan were born nearby. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths took over and during the 6th century, Seville was an important academic centre. Later, when the Moors began the conquest of Spain, Seville was made the capital of the al-Andalus empire for a short period. The city then became an extremely wealthy city-state during the rule of the Almohads. After the fall of the Moors, some important Christian rulers of Spain made Seville their place of residence.
The discovery of the Americas in the late 15th century was what really boosted Seville's prosperity and heritage. It was a main player in the race for the riches of the New World, strategically situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir. In the 19th century, travellers from across Europe were drawn to this famous city that was seen as an exotic and alluring cosmopolitan centre at the edge of European civilization where endless and exuberant festivities were held.
Until the end of the 19th century, Seville was contained within its medieval fortified walls. These were largely demolished by the beginning of the 20th century and what began then was the expansion of Seville culminating in the chaotic urban sprawl that it is today. Despite the ugly modern urban and industrial development on the outskirts of Seville, the city has retained its unique charm, its fascinating old centre and its enticing atmosphere is boosted by the warmth and easy going nature of Sevillians. Although there are a number of well known sights in Seville and a small tourist district exists, the real joy of the city is wandering the labyrinth of streets and spending time socializing and relaxing into the early hours in the city's numerous bars and restaurants.
Symbolic of the city are Seville's cathedral and Alcázar in the south eastern part of the old town. The cathedral contains a vast collection of treasures. The building was largely completed during the 16th century and is said to be the largest gothic cathedral in the world. The Alcázar, built by the Moors, was remodelled during the 16th century and today its magnificent and extensive gardens are a joy to explore.
Near to the Alcázar is the city's old Jewish quarter, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, where a labyrinth of narrow streets wind their way round whitewashed houses decked with colourful flowers and embellished with wrought iron balconies. To the north of the cathedral is an area renowned for its lively tapas bars, each with its own unique characteristics, atmosphere and clientele. There are several well known Plazas in the town, the pleasantest of which is the Plaza San Fernando near to the town hall. Sevillians are famous for their passion for shopping and just north of here is the main pedestrianised shopping area. Within the old city walls on the Calle Feria, there is a rastro, or a flea market, held each Thursday morning. The main red light district is along a promenade known as Almeda de Hercules and is probably best avoided alone at night. To the west of Almeda is an area known as the Barrio de San Lorenzo, one of the most attractive residential areas of the city. The area of town popular with young and affluent Sevillians is the Calle Torneo where a number of open air bars and kiosks serve drinks into the early hours during the summer.
Seville is renowned for its fiestas, the two main ones being Semana Santa, or Holy Week, at Easter and Seville's Feria which takes place in May. Semana Santa is a religious event that is somewhat difficult to interpret for outsiders. Large processions take place through the streets of Seville when statues of the virgin are dressed up and paraded, watched by huge crowds of people who are frequently moved to tears by the spectacle. Semana Santa is practically an obsession in Seville and there are photographs of the festival's processions on display throughout the city, throughout the year. The men leading the processions are known as Nazarenos and are dressed up in the pointed hoods and robes used by the Inquisition and later for similar sinister purposes by the Klu Klux Klan in America.
The other main event, Seville's Feria, runs over a week. It is a non-stop party from one Monday to the next and the whole of Seville closes down for a week. The women of the town dress in typical flamenco costumes and the famous Andalucían horses are paraded round parks but most of the activity takes place inside casetas, or marquees, that are owned by particular families or companies.
Seville is located on the eastern banks of the Guadalquivir river, which runs from the city into the Atlantic ocean 80km to the south. At a crossroads between the roads that run to Huelva and Portugal, Cádiz, Malaga and Córdoba, Seville is circumnavigated by motorways that can become very congested. Unfortunately, there is no convenient way to avoid these roads due to the limited number of bridges crossing the Guadalquivir outside of the city centre. The nearest coastal resorts to Seville are at Matalascañas, 85km to the southwest and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, 100km to the south. Seville's international airport is 12km from the city centre to the east of the city. Seville is linked by rail to Huelva, Cádiz, Córdoba, Madrid and beyond.
To the west of the Guadalquivir river, urban and industrial development has spread out from Seville over the last century. San Juan de Alnazfarache is a residential district of 20,000 inhabitants. The town has grown rapidly and consists largely of modern housing developments although it has conserved some ancient monuments including some Almohad ramparts and some medieval churches.
North of San Juan is the urban municipality of Camas with a population of 25,000. Another modern residential area, Camas is encircled by the busy motorways taking traffic around Seville.
In between Camas and San Juan is the district of Castilleja de la Cuesta, also a residential area of 15,000. Originally an Aljarafe village, today it is surrounded by the busy roads heading in and out of Seville.
Adjacent to Castilleja de la Cuesta is the suburb of Gines with a population 9000.
Just to the north of here and east of Camas is the municipality of Castilleja de Guzman. Still close to the heavily populated metropolitan areas, evidence of its original rural surroundings can be seen at Castilleja de Guzman where there are cereal fields and olive groves near to the village.
West of Castilleja de Guzman is Valencina de la Concepción, a residential area of 7000 inhabitants. The village is renowned for the various ancient dolmens that have been discovered in the surrounding area.
South of the A49 motorway is the town of Bormujoz with a population of 7500. Adjoining the other large residential areas close to the capital, the countryside proper begins to the west of Bormujoz.
South of Bormujoz is Mairena del Aljarafe, a residential area of 31,000 inhabitants popular with Sevillians wishing to live within easy reach of the city but away from the busy centre.
Santiponce
A village of 7000 people on the outskirts of Seville, Santiponce is a small, somewhat shabby village where the famous Roman ruins of Itálica are located. The village was founded in the 16th century when the former village site became flooded. Surrounded by cultivated land, Santiponce is popular with people making excursions from Seville to the Aljarafe countryside. Itálica was originally built in 205 BC and was the first Roman town to be established in Spain. Next to the Guadalquivir, it became an important port and was the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Most of the remains of the buildings seen here today were commissioned by Hadrian. The town fell into ruin during the middle ages but for a time was revered by people who made pilgrimages to the place they regarded as a Spanish Rome. When the villagers of Santiponce were forced to move closer to Itálica due to repeated flooding, they used much of the stone from the Roman site to construct their new houses. The amphitheatre has now been restored and operas and ballets are sometimes held here. Many of the original mosaics of Itálica are now housed in the Museo Arqueológico in Seville.
Also at Santiponce to the south of the village is the superb San Isidro del Campo, a 13th century monastery. Santiponce is located 7km to the north of Seville on the western side of the Guadalquivir river, adjacent to the motorway.
La Algaba
On the western banks of the Guadalquivir river, La Algaba is a town of 12,000 inhabitants to the north of Seville. The outstanding Torre de los Guzmanes, built in the 15th century by Juan de Guzmán is worthy of note, as is the church of Santa María de las Nieves. La Algaba is 10km north of Seville on the main N431 road.
Olivares
Olivares is a small rural town of 8000 inhabitants in the heart of an agricultural region with rolling hills covered with olive trees and wheat fields. Famous for being the birthplace of the 17th century Duke of Olivares, the town is peaceful and laid back in comparison to its neighbouring towns closer to Seville. A maze of narrow streets wind their way round whitewashed houses and the town's arcaded square is a very pleasant part of the town. Olivares is 15km from Seville.
Northwest of Olivares is the village of Albaida del Aljarafe, a traditional, rural village of 1800 inhabitants surrounded by agricultural land.
Four kilometres to the east of Olivares, Salteras is another traditional village of 3000 people which contains the 16th century parish church of Santa María de la Oliva, built in the mudejar style
Villanueva del Ariscal
In the centre of the Aljarafe, Villanueva is a town of 5000 inhabitants surrounded by fertile agricultural land on which olive trees, cereals and grapes are grown. Near to VIllanueva are the renowned Bodegas Góngora where you can find excellent wines. The Bodegas cellars date back to the middle ages. Villanueva is 17km from Seville. The Seville-Huelva rail line passes near to the town and there is a railway station a kilometre outside the town centre.
Just south of Villanueva is Espartinas, a village of 4000 inhabitants. There are a number of attractive country estates in the surrounding area originally built for the nobility of Seville.
Umbrete
Located between the N472 main road and the E-01 motorway, Umbrete has a number of interesting monuments. The most prominent of these are the huge and inspiring 17th century church and the Palacio Arzobispal. Surrounded by a landscape of olive trees and vineyards, Umbrete is renowned for the wine produced here known as Mosto. This young, sweet wine should be drunk within five to six months after the grapes have been harvested. A village of 5000 inhabitants, Umbrete is 15km from the centre of Seville.
Sanlúcar la Major
A typical Aljarafe town in the centre of the region, Sanlúcar is home to 10,000 people. Situated in an agricultural landscape, the town contains a number of interesting churches. The 13th century church of Santa María is constructed in a gothic-mudejar style, the church of San Pedro, also in the mudejar style is of Almohad origins and the church of San Eustaquio has an attractive tiled tower. Sanlúcar is situated on the N472 main road, 23km from Seville. The Seville-Huelva rail line passes through here and there is a station just outside the town.
At the edge of the Seville province, next to the border with Huelva, Carrión de los Céspedes is a village of 2000 inhabitants surrounded by fertile agricultural lands. Carrión is 30km west of Seville. The Seville-Huelva rail line passes through here and there is a station just outside the town.
Castilleja del Campo, a tiny village of 600 people is just north of Carrión. Numerous Roman remains have been found in the surrounding area.
Huévar is situated a couple of kilometres to the east of Carrión on the E-01 motorway. Surrounded by the typical agricultural landscape of the Aljarafe, Huévar is a village of 2300 inhabitants that dates back to Roman times.
Pilas
Located in an area of great natural beauty on the edge of the Cota Doñana Natural Park, Pilas is surrounded by cultivated fields as well as pine and oak forests. The town itself is an attractive place, home to 11,000 inhabitants. It was an important town in Moorish times when it was known as Pilias and developed around an Arabic "Qubba" built in the 11th century, which can still be seen. Pilas is situated 8km south of the motorway that runs from Seville to Huelva.
Bollullos de la Mitación
To the west of Seville, Bollullos is a village of 5000 people set in the middle of rolling hills covered with olive trees. Situated at the southern edge of the Aljarafe, Bollullos is surrounded by some of the regions most notable haciendas, constructed in the 18th century as country estates for Sevillian nobility. These haciendas are large country homes with extensive farmlands, the most famous of which is the Hacienda Torquemada. Near Bollullos is the Hermitage of Cuatrovitas, one of the most beautiful sights in the Aljarafe. This isolated hermitage has an exquisite minaret constructed in the Almohad period. Bollullos is located 4km from the E-01 motorway and 18km from Seville.
To the west of Bollullos is the town of Benacazón with a population of 5000. The town is situated just off the Seville to Huelva motorway and is 8km west of Bollullos.
The village of Almensilla lies to the southeast of Benacazón on the edge of the Cota Doñana natural park. A typical Andalucían village of 3000 inhabitants, the wide streets of Almensilla are lined with pretty, whitewashed houses.
Palomares del Río
Originally a Roman settlement, Palomares is a village of 3400 people with lovely views of the surrounding agricultural countryside. The village contains the 17th century church of Nuestra Señora de la Estrella with an interesting interior. The village lies on the edge of the Marismas and the Cota Doñana natural park. Palomares is 12km from the centre of Seville.
In the north of the Aljarafe is the town of Guillena, which has a population of 8000. The foothills of the Sierra Morena begin just to the north of the town. The main fiesta of Guillena takes place during the second week in September and is held in honour of the patron saint of Nuestra Señora de la Granada. Guillena is 20km north of Seville.
West of Guillena is the town of Gerena where a large number of important Roman remains have been unearthed, including baths, mosaics and aqueducts. Gerena has 5500 inhabitants and is located 8km to the east of Guillena.
Aznalcollar
On the northwestern edge of the Aljarafe is the town of Aznalcollar with a population of 5700. Lying near the foothills of the Sierra Morena, the countryside north of Aznalcollar is rich in flora and fauna and popular with those interested in rural pursuits. Aznalcollar was once an important mining area. Mining began here in Roman times and the remains of an aqueduct that took water to the Roman settlement of Itálica have been found here. The ruins of a Moorish castle can also be seen in the town. Aznalcollar continues to be a working mining area. The town is situated in an isolated area some 40km from the capital of Seville.