El Carpio: Buildings, Traditions and Canoe Routes

On the Guadalquivir, El Carpio is home to Las Grúas, a 16th-century hydraulic complex. The complex is attributed to Juan de Ávila. Its function was to raise water from the Guadalquivir. This water was used to irrigate the surrounding cultivated land.

The complex thus combines a historic structure with a clearly described technical purpose: water was not only raised from the river, but also conveyed for irrigation through a system of lifting equipment, channels and basins.

Water and River

Las Grúas and its surroundings are protected in the municipality of El Carpio (Córdoba) as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category. The main structure comprises a framework for three water wheels. A weir is also part of this hydraulic complex. Channels and basins form the system for distributing and storing the water. The three water wheels belong to the main structure. The weir, channels and basins complement this structure as parts of the same hydraulic system. This makes it possible to describe the construction, water distribution and water storage within the complex together. Canoe routes on the river start from the Centro Acuático de El Carpio and its natural landing stage near Las Grúas.

Culture and History

Construction of the Palacio Ducal began in 1671. Several improvements were made to the palace in the 18th century. The Palacio Ducal is located on the Plaza de la Constitución. The Torre de Garci Méndez was built in 1325 by maestre Mohamad. The tower is a Mudéjar building. Mortar and bricks were used in its construction.

The Palacio Ducal traces the development of the town over the period from the start of construction in 1671 to the improvements made in the 18th century. The Torre de Garci Méndez complements this historic heritage with its earlier construction date of 1325 and its Mudéjar construction using mortar and bricks.

Festivals and Traditions

Every year on 8 December, El Carpio celebrates the Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción. The fiesta is also known as the “Voto a la Inmaculada Concepción”. During this celebration, the Virgin is carried in a procession. The bearers belong to the Hijas de María group. The ritual reaches its climax in the Plaza del Triunfo. After the renewal of the vow, numerous children present the patron saint with a floral offering. In the Alto Guadalquivir, El Carpio and Bujalance share the tradition of the Voto a la Inmaculada Concepción, celebrated annually on 8 December.

The celebration combines the name of the vow, the procession of the Hijas de María, the renewal of the vow and the floral offering in the Plaza del Triunfo into a clearly structured ritual.

Other Places

Other places: Adamuz, Montilla, Torrecampo, Campo-Nubes, Almedinilla, Cabra, Villafranca De Córdoba, Aguilar De La Frontera

Events

In El Carpio, each edition of Scarpia takes place over two weeks in a summer month. Scarpia combines three creative workshops and themed talks with interventions by the participating artists. The three workshops are led by renowned artists.

The combination of workshops, talks and artistic interventions presents Scarpia as an event in which creative work and contributions by the participating artists stand alongside one another.

For the general travel overview: Cordoba.