Valle Medio del Guadalquivir

Why visit Valle Medio del Guadalquivir

Valle Medio del Guadalquivir follows the river downstream from Córdoba city towards the Seville border, a broad, fertile plain of orange orchards, cotton and cereal fields framed to the north by the wooded foothills of Sierra Morena. Riverside towns such as Almodóvar del Río, Posadas and Palma del Río grew up along this ancient route, while to the south La Carlota and Fuente Palmera were founded in the eighteenth century as planned settlements for colonists from central Europe. Easy to reach and varied, it suits travellers who want castles and river towns by day and wild forest country for walking just a short drive away.

Main attractions in Valle Medio del Guadalquivir

The castle of Almodóvar del Río, rising high above the river, is one of the most striking in Andalucía and has appeared on screen in Game of Thrones. Palma del Río, where the Genil meets the Guadalquivir, keeps stretches of its Almohad walls and is surrounded by orange groves, and La Carlota’s grid of streets recalls its origins as one of the Nuevas Poblaciones. North of the river, the Sierra de Hornachuelos Natural Park is a wild expanse of holm and cork oak where walkers follow river trails and birdwatchers look for black vultures and other raptors, with the Bembézar and Retortillo reservoirs adding fishing and lakeside picnics. Hornachuelos itself is a pretty white town on a rocky outcrop. Expect orange-scented springs, Semana Santa processions and simple dishes such as salmorejo and orange salads.