CARMONA is a serene little town, so quaint and picturesque against the
fertile plain on its low hill at the northeast of Seville.
It is easily recognized by a 15th century Iglesia de San Pedro tower
which sets the tone for this town as with Seville, 30 kilometers away.
History
Carmona
was a significant Roman city which has preserved an intriguing
subterranean necropolis. It also fell under Moorish influence before
Pedro the Cruel had a palace built inside the castle which was his royal
residence and place of governance.
Attractions
The
15th century tower is a good start for discovering Carmona as it
dominates the town's major street with an excellent Baroque sacristy
inside. Here you will see the Paseo del Estatuto church as well as the
splendid Puerta de Sevilla which is an awesome Roman gateway that has
been fortified in its Moorish design. This gateway leads to the ancient
part of the town which houses the tourist centre.
The
ancient town sector is surrounded by ancient walls, running for 4
kilometers, with narrow streets winding past Renaissance mansions as
well as Mudéjar churches. A little up the hill stands the Plaza Mayor
which is moderate in size albeit outstanding in its excellent Moorish
design.
Most mornings you will see and hear the
hustle and bustle of the morning market as vendors sell fruits and
vegetables. On the east stands the Gothic Santa María church which was
built over a mosque. As with most churches, some Mudéjar designs and
structures are maintained such as the mini tower, known as a minaret.
At
the town's edge lies Pedro's Alcazar in great ruins caused by the 1504
earthquake but now reconstructed as an elegant hotel or parador.
It's
an amazing change of scenery on the left and beyond, when the town
seems to stop short at a massive plain, which is really the amazing
Roman courtyard or necropolis where guided tours are available to those
interested in its history. Strolling along through cypress trees, you
will witness 900 tombs from the 2BC to 4AD. These are amazing sights as
the profound inner chambers have been hewn out of rock with insets to
hold funeral urns.
Some larger tombs also have walkways with benches of stone all the way to funeral banquets.
An
amazing sight here is the spectacular Tumba de Servilia which is a
large temple with rows of columns and side chambers that are vaulted. A
partially excavated
amphitheatre lays opposite which has not been included into the tour.
The nearby city center is also full of history with beautiful ancient
mansions and monasteries of Roman and Arab descent.
Accommodation
It is a lovely choice of accommodation here in villa costa brava
the authentic Andalusian-styled hotels in Mudéjar buildings and other
ancient architectural sites which offer great amenities and charming
views of Carmona.
Welcome to clubvillamar, A vacation home rental - A holiday where you can enjoy the comfort of your own villa costa brava villa and holiday homes on the villas costa blanca in Spain. To learn more read my other blogs at Alec Darian.
