Vega del Guadalquivir

Why visit Vega del Guadalquivir

The Vega del Guadalquivir follows the river upstream from the northern edge of Seville towards the border with Córdoba, a broad and fertile flood plain planted with orange groves, cotton, maize and fruit orchards. To the north, the land rises gently towards the foothills of the Sierra Morena, so the twelve towns of the comarca, among them Alcalá del Río, Cantillana, Lora del Río and Peñaflor, sit between rich farmland and wooded hills. People have settled this valley since prehistory, and Iberian, Roman and Moorish sites lie scattered among the fields. Calm, green and close to the capital, it suits travellers interested in archaeology, river landscapes and everyday Andalusian village life.

Main attractions in Vega del Guadalquivir

The Roman sanctuary of Munigua, with its terraced temple on a hillside near Villanueva del Río y Minas, is one of the most striking ancient sites in the province, and the same town keeps the streets and buildings of its old coal-mining past. Alcalá del Río stands on the site of Roman Ilipa, and Peñaflor preserves remains of Roman Celti beside the river. Above Lora del Río, the shrine of the Virgen de Setefilla sits next to a ruined Moorish castle and is the destination of a much-loved local pilgrimage. Riverside paths and flat country lanes suit walking and cycling, the riverbanks attract herons and kingfishers, and the Guadalquivir is popular with anglers. Cantillana is famous for the passionate rivalry of its two religious brotherhoods, and oranges, garden vegetables and river fish feature on local tables.