Tourist Information from Villamanrique de la Condesa, Sevilla, Spain

General Information:

Villamanrique de la Condesa is situated to the southwest of the province of Seville, between the Marshlands of the River Guadalquivir and the Aljarafe.

Called Mures by its earliest sttlers, the Iberians and the Romans, most of the municipality of Villamanrique is within the Doñana Natural Park and it boasts landscapes of outstanding natural beauty. The town is famous for being on the route used by the religious brotherhoods as they make their way to El Rocio. It is also home to the oldest brotherhood which takes part in the traditional pilgrimage. The passing of the brotherhoods through the town has been declared an Andalusian Spectacle of National Tourist Interest. Pilgrims also choose Villamanrique´s natural areas to rest for the night as: Los Pinares de la Juncosilla, Los Alcornocales de Hato Daza, La Dehesa de Gatos, El Chaparral or La Dehesa Boyal.

Places of interest:

• Parish Church of Santa María Magdalena: Built in the first half of the 19th century over an original church from the 14th century, its most interestig feature is the main altar by the Martínez Montañés school dating from the 16th century which was brought from a franciscan convent which was unfortunately not survived. The altar is a reliquary which is only opened a few days every year. The church also contains an altar dedicated to Saint Joseph whith a sculpture of the saint which is attributed to Martínez Montañés.

• Monument to Pascual Márquez: A sculpture dedicated to bullfighter Pascual Márquez, a native of Villamanrique, who died in 1941 after being seriously gored by a bull at Madrid´s bullring.

• The Royal Palace: Built in the 19th century over a construction from the 16th century, the palace is structurated around a central porticoed courtyard with an Italian marble colonnade. The design of its quarters and gardens has abundant French rococo features. The palace houses nomerous works of art and a valuable library archive. Of special note is an unusual hut with a gabled roof which houses a small electric power plant which generates electricity for the palace. This small plant is one of the first of its kind built in Spain.

• Monument to the Virgin of El Rocío: Cunstructed recently, this monument is located in the Dehesa Boyal, a place which is used by many brother-hood as they rest for the nigth on their way to El Rocío.

• Mural of the Dehesa Boyal: This fresco painting by Alberto Donaire, which was inaugurated in December 2003, depicts one of the most emotive events for the locals o Villamanrique: the passing of the brotherhoods, declared a Spectacle of National Touristic Interest.

Natural resources:

• Natural areas: Although the names La Juncosilla, Pinares y Dehesa de Gatos, Dehesa Boyal, Laguna de San Lázaro, or Pinares del Chaparral, may not mean much to outsiders, they refer to impressive natural areas of great ecological value which belong to the municipality of Villamanrique and are located in the surroundings of the Doñana Natural Park. With the typical flora which surrounds marshlands, they are ideal for walking, horse riding and cycling.

• Environmental Education centre: Organises environmental educational programmes incluing activities for raising people´s awareness about the importance of discovering and protecting the local natural resources as a means of promoting the municipality. It acts as a complementary centre which offers an alternative to the Doñana centres themselves.

Traditions:

• Feria de Villamanrique: second week in September.

• Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción: 8th of December.

• Corpus Christi.

• Fiesta Patronal de san Roque: 15-16th of August.

• Semana Santa.

• Campeonato Internacional de Yuntas y Carretas.