Things to Do in Carmona in Seville

If you are wondering what to see and do in Seville, you should know that just 30 km from this city is Carmona, a city with more than 5000 years of history where the remains of the Phoenician, Roman and Muslim civilisations form an important part of its identity. El Lucero de Europa, as it is often called, gives us an idea of the layout of the Roman cities with their gates, walls, fortresses and squares.

But it is not all history in Carmona, as it is, without doubt, one of the prettiest towns in Seville, with its narrow streets and low houses, with the beautiful valley that surrounds it and the views that make it simply unforgettable for all its visitors.

In the city of Carmona there are two fortresses, one located in the lower part of the city and the other in the upper part, which is why they are known as the "Alcazar de arriba" and the "Alcazar de abajo". Both were part of the ancient walls that surrounded the city, which, in their time, made Carmona one of the safest places against invaders.

The origins of the Alcazar de Abajo date back to 206-237 BC, when the Carthaginians built its first layout, which was reformed by the Romans in the time of Augustus, and by the Muslims during the 12th and 14th centuries.

In addition to learning more about the history of this fortress, its terraces and the Torre de Oro (Golden Tower) offer beautiful views of the city.

Useful information

You can visit the interior of the Alcázar de la Puerta de Sevilla for a minimal fee, and one day a week free of charge.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm.
• Price: Around 2 EUR. Mondays free. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the Alcazar, which is the tourist office.
• Location: Pl. Blas Infante, 41410 Carmona, Sevilla

The Archaeological Ensemble of Carmona comprises two Roman buildings dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD: the Necropolis and the Amphitheatre. Both are located on the outskirts of the city and cover some 8 hectares.

Admission is free for EU citizens and has a minimal cost for other visitors from around the world. My recommendation is to take a guided tour, as you will learn in detail the interesting history behind these buildings.

The Roman Necropolis of Carmona

The Necropolis is one of the largest surviving Roman burial spaces. Here you can see underground burial chambers, crematoria and a museum where you can find out a lot of information about Roman burial rituals, see funerary paintings and learn about other customs.

Of great interest are the collective mausoleum, the tomb of the Elephant (which was also a sanctuary where the god Attis and the goddess Cybele were worshipped) and the tomb of Seville, which houses wall paintings and sculptures.

The Roman Amphitheatre

In the Amphitheatre in ancient times gladiatorial games and other spectacles were held, i.e. its function was not unlike that of an amphitheatre today.

However, the Roman Amphitheatre was also linked to the Necropolis, and was even a place where cremations took place. Today the Amphitheatre is closed to the public, but can be seen from the outside.

Useful information

• Location: Av. Jorge Bonsor, 9, 41410 Carmona, Seville.
• Opening hours: Monday closed. Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 7pm. Sunday and holidays from 9am to 3pm.
• Price: Between 1 and 2 EUR. Free for EU citizens. No reservation required.

The Cordoba Gate dates back to the 1st century AD and, as well as having a defensive function, it served the purpose of demonstrating the great Roman power.

It is a truly imposing building with its vaulted central gate, columns and octagonal towers on either side. Entering through the Puerta de Córdoba and finding a narrow alleyway framed by low white houses is truly an unforgettable postcard.

The Puerta de Córdoba connected with the Via Augusta, one of the main communication routes of the time. It originally had three gates, two of which were pedestrian gates and a central one which was dedicated to the passage of carriages. It was also higher, but successive earthquakes caused irreparable damage and a large part of the building was rebuilt.

Today you can enter the monument and sign up for a free guided tour with prior reservation. Something curious that you can visit in its facilities is the Sunflower Interpretation Centre, where information about this plant is given.

Sunflower Interpretation Centre

The Puerta de Córdoba is an excellent viewpoint over the sunflower fields that surround it. Carmona has some 30,000 hectares cultivated with this plant, which is particularly popular with the Japanese, who visit Carmona when the sunflowers are in bloom in late spring and early summer.

The Sunflower Interpretation Centre exhibits photographs, which in a way try to evoke the sunflower fields in the months when they are not in bloom.

Useful information

• Location of the Puerta de Córdoba: c/ Dolores Quintanilla s/n
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 3pm.
• Price: Free admission for EU citizens. For the rest, it costs about 2 €.

The Alcázar of King Don Pedro is also called the Alcázar de Arriba or Alcázar de la puerta de Marchena.

It is located in the highest part of the city and its construction is attributed to King Pedro I of Castile, who restored it in the 14th century to convert it into his palace. It is believed to have been built in the 12th century, in Islamic times, on the site of a Roman acropolis.

Today the Alcázar is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest in Carmona, although you can't see all the splendour it once had, quite the opposite. However, the Marchena gate and the towers that follow one after the other along the wall will leave you in awe. You can climb the Torre Mayor or Torre de la Pólvora tower to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Vega valley.

If you fancy a bite to eat along the way, you can go to the Parador Nacional de Carmona, which was built where the palace used to be. Much admired for its great beauty, it offers rooms where you can stay, a swimming pool, a restaurant serving typical food, a bar and rooms for events.

useful information

• Location: Calle Los Alcázar, s/n, 41410 Carmona, Seville.
• Price: Free
• Opening hours: Friday to Tuesday at 11am, 1pm or 4pm, by reservation. Write to their email (turismo@carmona.org) or telephone the tourist office (954190955) to book a visit.

In the historic centre of the city is the Carmona Market, which is located in the Plaza de Abastos, where the convent of Santa Catalina de Siena used to be.

This convent, which functioned in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, was expropriated in 1837. The design we can see today belongs to Ramón del Toro and is neoclassical in style.

The Market consists of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by four galleries framed by semicircular arches supported by columns. Food stalls and bars are located in the galleries. Here you can sit down for a drink and some delicious tapas. The Market also often hosts cultural events of all kinds.

Useful information

• Location: C/ Domínguez de la Haza
• Opening hours: Every day from 7am to midnight.

If you like to visit old buildings with history, and see pieces of great artistic value, you cannot miss the churches on your tour of Carmona. They are even part of the free :tour offered by the Carmona Tourist Office.

The :Iglesia Prioral de Santa María de Asunción was built on the site of an old Muslim mosque. The Patio de los Naranjos or ablution courtyard is the only one still standing from that period.

Construction of the church began in 1424 and continued in successive stages until the 19th century. The architectural style of the temple is neo-Gothic. You can also visit the church of San Pedro, located next to the Puerta de Sevilla.

This church was built in the 15th century and reformed in the 17th century, when it acquired the Baroque style that we can see today. It has a beautiful glass baptismal font from the year 1500, among many other artistic objects.

The Town Hall is one of the most interesting buildings you can see in Carmona.

The building belonged to the Jesuit Order and was completed in 1621. It was the site of the San Teodomiro school until the expulsion of the Jesuits during the reign of Carlos III.

History buffs will be pleased to know that the town hall preserves the old cloistered courtyard, where you can see a mosaic that belonged to a Roman baths from the 2nd century. The mosaic is called the Mosaic of Medusa, no less. There is also a cyphus by Tullius Amelius (2nd century) in the assembly hall.

Useful information

• Location: C. el Salvador, 2, 41410 Carmona, Seville.
• Opening hours: Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday from 8 to 14 hs. Tuesday and Thursday from 16.30 to 18.30 hs. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

In addition to all the collections that you can see in the Museum of Carmona, the building in which it is located is one of the many palace-houses that you can see in Carmona, and is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest.

Its construction dates back to the 16th century and it belonged to the Marquis of Las Torres. If you want to learn about the history of the city, its museum is the place to be.

In the Museum of Carmona you will find a collection of pieces ranging from the Palaeolithic period to the present day, including the periods of Tartessian, Turdetan, Roman, Islamic and Medieval Carmona. You can even see a model of what Roman Carmona was like.

To liven up the tour, you can visit the tapas bar inside the museum.

Useful information

• Location: C. San Ildefonso, 1, 41410 Carmona, Seville.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Monday from 11am to 2pm. From June to August it opens with summer opening hours, Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9.30am to 2pm.
• Price: Around 3 EUR. Tuesdays free.

The old aniseed factory "Los hermanos", whose origins date back to 1880, is where the Puerto de Indias distillery is located today. It was bought, by chance, by two brothers, the Rodriguez brothers, who learned the trade from the former owners.

The distillery still uses traditional techniques to make the drinks, such as the copper stills from the old factory.

A curiosity is that strawberry gin, which today is consumed all over the world, was first made at the distillery. The distillery is also a site steeped in history, as it is fed by underground water springs that were used during Roman times.

It is located on a 7-hectare estate, on a site where Roman baths once stood, the remains of which can still be seen.

The distillery offers guided tours by prior reservation, including tastings. You can find all the information you need to sign up on their website.

For those who like walking, you can take a trip around Carmona to visit the caves of La Batida, located about 4 km from the city.

During Roman times, stone was extracted from these caves for use in construction, and they were still being quarried in the 15th century. It was also a place of Muslim prayer, when it was forbidden to profess that religion in the town.

You can start the walk from the Córdoba gate, following the ancient Via Augusta. On the way you will see the Roman Bridge of the five eyes and the hermitage of San Mateo, in Mudejar style.

The caves are in a beautiful natural setting, where you will be able to see native species such as the eagle owl.

This route through the outskirts is usually called the environmental route and is ideal for when temperatures are not so high. However, a hat to protect you from the sun is never a bad idea.