El Villar – Festivals, Mill Route and Nuevas Poblaciones

The houses of El Villar are scattered throughout the area and preserve the original settlement structure of the Nuevas Poblaciones. Many homes were formerly built on agricultural plots so that the colonists could farm their fields directly.

Culture

The church of El Villar was built in the early 2000s and has a circular floor plan. It contains frescoes by Kiko Argüello and his team.

The Iglesia de San Isidro Labrador is one of El Villar’s attractions.

The church’s circular floor plan contrasts with the scattered arrangement of the homes. Both forms are part of the town’s architectural history, but they belong to different periods: the church was built in the early 2000s, while the homes were constructed on the colonists’ agricultural plots.

Other destinations include Doña Mencía, Fuente Obejuna, Añora, Rute, La Fuente Grande, Priego De Córdoba, Alcolea and Villaharta.

Festivals

The Romería de San Isidro del Villar began in 1952. The image of the patron saint was purchased with the proceeds from a raffle.

The Romería de El Villar originated in the 1950s in honor of San Isidro Labrador. The Romería de El Villar includes a communal meal shared by the brotherhood along the route.

The Romería de San Isidro Labrador takes place on May 15 or on the nearest weekend. Several dozen decorated floats and hundreds of pilgrims travel from El Villar to the Paraje de Los Arroyones.

The Feria de El Villar takes place in mid-June. The festival of Cristo del Perdón is celebrated in October.

Landscape

Mill Route II runs between Cañada del Rabadán, El Villar, La Ventilla and Fuente Palmera. It is approximately 17 kilometers long and is rated easy.

The route passes through a predominantly rural landscape with rain-fed and irrigated farming, olive groves and old rural huts away from the settlement centers.

Its approximate length and easy rating provide the route with a clearly defined framework. At the same time, its course connects several villages with the rural spaces between them. Farmland, olive groves and old huts shape the sections away from the settlement centers, complementing the views of the villages with agricultural features.

Mill Route

Mill Route II leads to Molino de la Palma, a former 17th-century estate. The estate was converted into a country house and restored while preserving its original features.

Mill Route II leads to Molino Sotomelero, a historic 16th-century mill. The mill was restored and repurposed for various celebrations. It includes gardens, accommodation and event halls.

The two mills refer to different historical periods. Molino de la Palma is a former 17th-century estate, while Molino Sotomelero is classified as a historic 16th-century mill. Both buildings were restored and are associated with a present-day use.

Location and History

Parque de El Villar is located on the road between Fuente Palmera and Écija.

The area around El Villar was once home to Muslim alquerías, which had previously been Roman villas. Oil was produced at these sites for export from Astigi to Rome. Archaeological remains in the area point to this history. A thorough investigation is still pending.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cordoba.