Acalá Del Río between Ilipa Magna and the Guadalquivir

Roman town walls, Mudéjar churches, museums and the Guadalquivir shape Acalá Del Río; archaeological, religious and industrial heritage define the character of the town.

Roman traces and archaeological layers

The Centro de Interpretación de la Muralla Romana de Ilipa Magna is located on Calle Sol; the La Angorrilla archaeological site lies near the historic centre of Alcalá del Río. It comprises a Chalcolithic settlement with around 100 silos built into marl and terrace deposits and was used as a settlement during the Chalcolithic period and as a necropolis in Tartessian and Roman times. The Roman town wall of Alcalá del Río is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC), dates from around the 1st century AD and reaches more than 8 metres in places. The second museum room is dedicated to Roman Alcalá del Río, ancient Ilipa Magna; the mosaic in Plaza de España is an Opus Tesselatum from the 2nd or 3rd century AD. The municipal archaeological collection in the Casa de la Cultura comprises almost 1,000 pieces from the Neolithic to the present day, including coins, ceramics and tools, with a particular focus on Roman heritage.

Mudéjar buildings and religious traditions

The Church of Santa María de la Asunción is a Mudéjar building from the early 14th and 15th centuries; its tower stands on a Roman defensive structure. The church contains works by Duque Cornejo, Roque Balduque, Hernando de Esturmio and Francisco Antonio Gijón. The Mudéjar Ermita de San Gregorio de Osset was built at the end of the 15th century on the orders of the Catholic Monarchs. Its tomb, bearing a Visigothic inscription, contains the remains of Saint Gregorio de Osset the Confessor. Holy Week in Alcalá del Río is recognised as a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional de Andalucía and is celebrated every year as part of local tradition and religious faith.

The Guadalquivir, weir and gardens

Lush riverside vegetation and diverse waterbirds characterise the Guadalquivir river area. Access to the Bajo Guadalquivir river area is free, including from Parque de la Loberilla. The Alcalá del Río dam complex comprises a reservoir with sluice gates, a hydroelectric power station, an operational bridge on piers, a road bridge and a lock. Construction began in summer 1928; the dam was the first hydraulic dam with sluice gates built in Spain. Javier de Winthuysen designed the Winthuysen Gardens in 1931 as part of the hydroelectric power station complex. They are considered a historic garden in an industrial landscape and cover approximately 3,062 m². To access them, the weir must be crossed, as the gardens are on the opposite riverbank from the town centre. The Bajo Guadalquivir area is designated as a Zona de Especial Conservación (ZEC); within the municipal area of Alcalá del Río lies the Alcalá del Río weir.

Routes and visitor information

Prior registration at the Casa de la Cultura is required to visit the Centro de Interpretación; it can be visited individually or in groups. Albur, carp and black bass are fished along the Guadalquivir riverbank and in the reservoir. Stage 6 of the Camino Benedictino is a named route between Alcalá del Río, Villaverde del Río and Brenes. Bus route M-115 connects Alcalá del Río with La Rinconada and Seville.

More destinations

More destinations: El Ronquillo, Villanueva Del Ariscal, Las Cabezas De San Juan, Fuentes De Andalucía, Dos Hermanas, Constantina, Cazalla De La Sierra and San José De La Rinconada.

To the higher-level travel overview: Seville.