Alanís: Dehesas, Church and Medieval Festivals

Culture and History

Alanís is home to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, a traditional three-nave church dating from 1356. As a parish church, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves was declared a national historic-artistic monument by Royal Decree 554/1982. The entire front area of the church's main altar is adorned with a valuable Baroque retable. This retable dates from the 16th century. Thus, the same building brings together a medieval origin, Baroque furnishings and ecclesiastical use that continues to this day. Visitors who wish to see the church interior can visit the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves during Mass times; these times provide the applicable framework for visiting.

The Fuente de las Pilitas is an Arab brick spring. It includes a basin. To this day, the spring is used to irrigate the nearby gardens and also as a watering trough for livestock. The Fuente de las Pilitas is also associated with the local legend “Encanto de las Pilitas.” The spring thus brings together its architectural form, present-day use and traditional story, without any one of these aspects replacing the others.

Festivals and Regional Products

The Jornadas Medievales de Alanís were established in 2003. In 2019, they were recognized as an “Acontecimiento de Interés Turístico de Andalucía” (Event of Tourist Interest in Andalusia). The Jornadas are scheduled for the first weekend of September. Their program includes street theater and fire shows. It also includes parades and a craft market. These events transform the town into a medieval setting. The date and the program items are connected: the festival combines a clearly specified date with a varied public events program.

The Mercado Medieval de Alanís takes place every year. It offers tastings of typical regional products. These include ham, cheese, cured meats and oils. The regional selection therefore ranges from savory meat and dairy products to oils, all offered for tasting as part of the market.

Other destinations include Guillena, Castilblanco De Los Arroyos, Castilleja De La Cuesta, Mairena Del Alcor, Alcolea Del Río, Torrepalma, Brenes and Camas.

Nature and Trails

The natural surroundings of Alanís include Mediterranean woodland landscapes with dehesas of holm oaks and cork oaks. The Sendero de los Aguardienteros – El Título begins in Alanís beside the castle entrance. Its route passes through woodland areas characterized by holm oaks and cork oaks. In the final section, the trail runs parallel to the Rivera del Benalija. The route therefore leads from the starting point at the castle entrance through the dehesa woodlands to the section where it runs parallel to the Rivera del Benalija.

The Turruca is reached on the “Dehesas de Sierra Morena” trail. The Turruca is an old stone structure. It was used as a tool shed on threshing floors and in olive groves. In some places, it is still used as a tool shed. Along this section of the trail, the structure's former agricultural function remains as evident as its partially continuing use.

The area around Alanís is home to, among other species, red deer, wild boar, Spanish imperial eagles and griffon vultures. The species listed include both mammals and birds of prey and scavenging birds, complementing the description of the Mediterranean woodland landscapes with the wildlife found there.

Getting There

Alanís currently has no rail service. The nearest railway stations are in Guadalcanal and El Pedroso. Alanís is therefore not itself the destination station when arriving by train; Guadalcanal and El Pedroso are the nearest railway locations.

For the main travel overview: Seville.