Carmona, a picturesque little town perched majestically atop a low hill and overlooks the central plain of Andalucia from the peak of San Cristobal to the south, to the Sierra Morena to the north-side. The first sight that meets your eyes as you approach Carmona is the impressive 15th century tower that was constructed as a replica of Sevilla’s Giralda.

 

The town’s entrance is marked by the Puerto de Sevilla, the once-grand fortified gateway that now lies in a ruinous state. Inside the wall lies the old, historic part of the city where narrow roads meander past Renaissance mansions and Mudejar churches. Further up lies the Plaza San Fernando, which is dominated by buildings constructed in the Moorish style.

Carmona is every history lover’s paradise. Every nook and cranny of pint-sized Carmona reflects the town’s rich history and every building has a story to tell.

 

A greater part of The Alcazar de Arriba fortress was destroyed in the 1504 and 1755 earthquakes that shook this tiny city leaving only a few towers and the Entrance Gate standing. It was eventually re-constructed in 1976 and is now a splendid oasis of comfort, beauty and fine food.

 

A visit to the Roman Necropolis, which lies amid cypress trees on a low hill at the opposite end of Carmona, reveals an archaeological site that currently contains just 200 of the original 800 tombs from the 1st century BC to the 4th century AD. The tombs are enclosed in chambers hewn from rock and are often frescoed. Several of the larger tombs still feature the carved family emblems while others have vestibules with stone benches, which were meant for funeral banquets. A partially excavated museum lies opposite. A nearby museum houses an interesting statue of Servilia and a large assortment of cinerary urns and mortuary chests.

 

Despite the several modifications it has undergone over the centuries, the imposing, majestic Puerta de Sevilla is still the best preserved of all Roman gates in Spain.

 

Church of San Bartolome is one of the oldest churches in Carmona. Garrison chief, Fray Luis de Godoy used the church’s tower as an artillery position in the war that was fought against Gomez Mendez de Sotomayor.

 

The monumental Baroque church, Parish church of El Salvador was contructed between 1605 and 1720. Local artist Jose Maestro built the main altarpiece, which is decorated with figures of Jesus and the Saints Michael, Theodormirus and Gabriel.

 

Some of the other interesting historical sites of the region include the convent of La Concepcion, the church of Santiago, Madre de Dios Convent and convent of Santa Clara.

Residents as well as visitors to Carmona have plenty of opportunity to live it up with several hip and happening night spots in the city. Every area offers a distinctly different type of night- time entertainment.

 

The streets of Alfalfa and Betis offer a wide variety of discotheques, nightclubs and bars with plenty of night-time excitement, whereas the area around the Cathedral offers numerous more quieter cafeterias and bars that are perfect for having a quiet drink while talking to friends.

 

Start off in the Argote de Molina street or the Santa Cruz for the first drink of the night and end up on the streets of Adriano, Julio Cesar or Marques de Paradas for drinking till the early hours of the morning.

History buff or not; this tiny town is well worth a visit. When you have absorbed as much history as you possible could, you could follow the 28 kilometre long greenway and head off to the Via Verde of the Hills or Alcala de Guadaira. You can choose to go by bike or by horseback or you could even try walking the distance if you wanted. The annual fair held in April is the perfect time to observe the customs and the costumes of the people of this charming town in southern Spain.