Monuments and Cultural Routes

Due to its fertile plain, the Guadalquivir River and the many hundreds of kilometres of coastline fronting the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, Andalucia was always a coveted land. The different civilizations that lived in the area during its long history left a rich cultural heritage and favoured its economic development. It had two important and splendid periods of civilisation that transformed Europe and the world: the Al –Andalus Arab period and the XVI century, known as the Golden Age of Andalucia, marked by the discovery of the new world.

The "Cultural Routes" are routes that invoke memories of historical moments and intimate geographical knowledge whose elements help to spread the history of Andalucia’s cultural heritage.

Some of the most notable routes include the Ruta del Califato, the Ruta Bética Romana, the Ruta del Barroco Cordobés or the Ruta de Washington Irving.

The Ruta del Califato de El Legado Andalusí connects the cities of Cordoba and Granada and passes through the rich lands of Jaen. The journey goes through beautiful and fertile countryside and connects many villages that have an historical and artistic past that witnessed conflicts and times of peace between the Muslims and Christians.

It links citadels, castles, fortress built by Arabs and by Christians on high mountain peaks. The traveller may also admire the beautiful and rough landscapes of the Natural Park of the Cordoba’s Sierras Subbeticas. In this area we find steep slopes together with meadows and riverbanks where you can explore following the old paths.

This route joining the capitals of the Caliph and Nazarí Al-Andalus -Cordoba and Granada- was one of the most busiest in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It was much travelled by merchants who came from the entire world and who supplied and traded with these important populated centres; it was also known as the Route of art, sciences and knowledge

Ruta Betica Romana: : From the 3rd century B.C.. to the 5th century A.D., the Roman Empire enjoyed the richness of the region of the Guadalquivir river: its wine, oil, cereals and minerals. They also appreciated the ingenuity and the knowledge of its inhabitants: the philosopher Seneca and the two Roman Emperors Trajano and Adriano came from Italica, a few kilometres from Seville.

On the Betica-Romana route you can find Roman villages, such as Italica, founded by Escipion, El Africano as well as towns like Carmona, Marchena, Ecija and Osuna, all of them situated near Seville and already mapped by the geographer Teophorus at the end of the 2nd century A.D. The Betica-Romana route connects Hispalis (Seville), Corduba (Cordoba) and Gades (Cadiz) and is mainly situated in the valley of the Guadalquivir River and the Seville’s countryside. Other Roman remains are to be found in the Costa de la Luz between Cadiz and Gibraltar.

Ruta del Barroco Cordobés: Andalucia is an important centre of Baroque Art due to the number of artists that are gathered there and due to the quality of their work; it is also known for being lively and dynamic, thus perfectly fitting in with the Andalucian people’s personality. Thus, we find richly decorated towers and luxurious chapels and altarpieces that demonstrate what the Catholic Church represents. The Subbetica stands out on a historical and artistic level because it gathers in several popular examples of the Cordoba’s Baroque, a period of great importance, so much so that the town of Priego de Cordoba is considered the capital of this artistic representation. Everything was favoured by the period of economic splendour that the Subbetica lived in the XVIII century, taking it to extend its cultural heritage.

This route offers visits to Priego de Cordoba, Cabra, Lucena, Encinas Reales, Benamejí, Rute and Palenciana.

Ruta de Washington Irving: The Ruta de Washington Irving goes through the provinces of Seville, Malaga and Granada and is inspired by the trip made to these places by the North American diplomat and writer who wrote 'Cuentos de la Alhambra', in 1829. Irving arrived here fascinated by the variety and exoticisms of the Hispanic-Moslem civilization.

Washington Irving travelled around the land of Andalucia looking for the exotic oriental influences that could be found in the local urban areas, he was fascinated by their uses and the traditions and one can see reflected in his works. Today, this route’s interest is the cities and towns full of history, legend and literary references.

The landscapes in the Natural Parks of Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Alhama in Granada and places like the beautiful pools near Osuna and the Fuente de Piedra are a photographer’s dream.

This route goes through Seville, Alcalá de Guadaira, Carmona, Marchena, Ecija, Osuna, Estepa, La Roda de Andalucia, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Mollina, Antequera, Archidona, Loja, Huétor Tájar, Moraleda de Zafayona, Alhama de Granada, Montefrío, Íllora, Fuentevaqueros, Chauchina, Santa Fe and Granada.

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