Upon arrival in an Alfa Romeo Giulia, a surprising historical centre awaits, crammed with low houses, winding cobblestone alleys and narrow passageways which, as night falls, are filled with mystery and silence, a world away from the noise and commotion of the big city.
Churches, palaces and walls make up the important historical heritage of Carmona’s old quarter, dominated by the imposing sight of its Moorish fortress, the Alcázar del Rey Don Pedro, which is accessed through the Puerta de Córdoba.
Many of the travellers who come to Carmona begin to explore from above, specifically from the aforementioned Alcázar, which today houses a Parador hotel, an ideal place to enjoy the views from its lookout point and the beautiful Arabic courtyard inside, with vaulted ceilings dating from the 14th century.
To reach three of the most characteristic neighbourhoods of the city, you have to cross the Puerta Marchena with its panoramic views over a sea of green olive trees. They are San Felipe, Santiago and San Blas, the latter being the city’s old Jewish quarter where you can travel back in time and enjoy the tranquillity of its streets.
These neighbourhoods make up Carmona’s historical centre, maintaining a network of narrow streets that are characteristic of the charm of any other Andalusian city, although Carmona is special in that these places have hardly changed over the years, retaining their original layout almost entirely. As a result, visitors wander through white-walled streets that stand out against the blue of the sky, giving Carmona a unique feel.
Over the centuries this city has successfully preserved its cultural heritage, the proof of which is the Mercado de Abastos market square, which once housed a Dominican convent and is now one of the city’s most striking monumental spaces.
The incredible variety of different sites that history has bequeathed to the city of Carmona allow visitors to travel back through the historical and cultural heritage of this emblematic town.