Sierra Morena in Seville, an oasis between pastures of oak and cork trees

Aside from this industrial activity, Kazala It is proud of its artistic heritage led by… Church of Our Lady of ConsolationHalf temple, half fortress, one of its towers contains traces of a cannon from the last Spanish Civil War. In Cazala they consider it the “Cathedral of the Sierra Morena” because of its enormous dimensions. Other interesting effects also stand out such as Church and Palace of San BenitoWhere professional meetings are organized; he Baroque monastery in San Franciscothe city hall located in the old district San Agustin Monasterywhich also became a distillery for a time, and Monastery of the Mother of God From the sixteenth century.

The ideal time to visit Cazala since 2018 is November every year because some events are held in the city. The dramatic days commemorating the retirement of Felipe V In this mountain town during the summer of 1730 under the guidance of his wife, Isabelle di Farnesio. It was a three-month period that alleviated the illnesses and mental ailments of the first Spanish Bourbons thanks to the fresh air and natural benefits of the region. Philip V moved his entire court, 1,956 people and 760 mules, forcing him to empty the city of its neighbors and occupy other mountain towns to accommodate the entire expedition. The king is said to have turned night into day and day into night, reversing the order of palace functions, including gastronomic functions. Today there is a ceramic plaque installed in the Plaza del Concejo that remembers those historical events.

The isolation of Charterhouse Casala

You can’t leave Cazalla de la Sierra without visiting the outskirts of the city Carthusian Monastery It was built on an old mosque from the eighth century. It was occupied first by the Hieronymians in the 15th century and then by the Carthusians until the confiscation of Mendizabal in 1836 led to its abandonment. The building turned into a farmhouse and ended up becoming a sheep barn and after going through several owners it was acquired by the Borken family.

Carolina BurkinShe, Jacques Bourquin’s daughter, restored it to turn it into a magnificent country residence where weddings, stargazing events, conferences and other meetings and yoga retreats with natural medicine sessions are also held, both in its large central nave, which seats 350 guests, and in the courtyards and other cloister rooms.

The most populated core of Sierra Norte is Constantine It was Alfonso XII who granted it its status as a “city” in 1916. Moreria districtfor him fort Which belonged to Cordoba until 1253 AD Parish Church of Santa Maria de la EncarnacionIt has been declared a national monument with its five-story tower; Outside its urban area is worth a visit Snow WalesIt is a rural building that used to make ice that was consumed in the capital, Seville. Today it is a charming residence. Also in its municipal area, wild cattle farms have spread, such as those of Dolores Aguirre or those owned by Antonio Ordóñez and Juan Antonio Ruiz Espartaco.

he Iron Hill It is undoubtedly an area with a rich geological and mining heritage, with its very ancient rocks indicating 700 million years of Earth history. These rock formations produced by the movement of the atmosphere and water are impressive, as is Cerro del Hierro, an older karst area than the famous Torcal de Antequera, which can be admired 5 kilometers from San Nicolas del Puerto.

The beginning of its exploitation dates back to the Roman era and it operated, albeit intermittently, until 1985. From this mine, bags of iron ore that were used in the Triana Bridge were extracted. The oldest iron bridge in SpainSome in these lands even believe that they were also used to build the Eiffel Tower, as the mine was directed at the end of the nineteenth century by engineers and managers who came from Scotland, and it is known that iron was sent in large quantities from the port of Santander to the far north of Europe. You can currently take a tour of this natural monument of Sierra Norte Geopark in SevilleOn foot or by bike along a green path leads to galleries and tunnels carved into its rocks that allow you to discover the plants that have grown through its visible limestone.

Among the willows, elms, poplars and elms, there are other surprises in the Sierra Morena Sevillana, in The bank of the Huiznar River and its waterfalls. In this place, you can contemplate the backwaters of pools and limestone waterfalls rushing through a very dense magical gallery forest. Bathing in these clear waters is prohibited, but is permitted on the shore of the San Nicolas del Puerto River. The area has been declared a natural monument and is located just ten minutes’ drive from Cerro de Hierro.