Estepa: Tower, Mantecados and Sierra

Culture and History

The Torre del Homenaje is the most architecturally significant element of Estepa’s walled complex. Its square floor plan is 13 metres wide, and the tower is 26 metres high. Inside, it contains a square chamber with a Gothic ribbed vault on an octagonal plan.

A cross of the Order of Santiago carved into the Torre del Homenaje symbolises Estepa’s affiliation with this commandery from 1267 to 1559.

The Casa Palacio de los Marqueses de Cerverales, completed in 1756, is an example of civil Baroque architecture that has fully preserved its original features. In 1984, the building was declared a national historical-artistic monument; today, it is a BIC.

The Iglesia y convento de Santa Clara was founded in 1599 and built predominantly during the 17th century. Its Baroque high altar was created by Pedro Ruiz Paniagua.

The Museo Arqueológico Padre Martín Recio displays prehistoric, protohistoric, Roman, Early Christian, Visigothic and Islamic exhibits. Among the pieces is a Sleeping Eros dating from the second quarter of the 2nd century AD.

The building housing the Museo Arqueológico Padre Martín Recio was constructed from 1671 onwards as the Escuelas Pías, later served as a prison until 1950, and was restored as a museum in 1993.

The Primitivo Convento de Santa Clara has been converted into a museum. Furnished rooms illustrate the monastery’s historical appearance and explain the functions of its original rooms.

You can visit the Torre del Homenaje as part of guided tours. Holy Week in Estepa is recognised as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia.

Gastronomy

Mantecados and confectionery from Estepa are first documented in a sales document from 1559, which names Tristán Gómez as a local confectioner.

The products “Mantecados de Estepa” and “Polvorones de Estepa” have a protected geographical indication. The Regulatory Council ensures and promotes quality control of the protected products.

Chocomundo has fifteen exhibition rooms, a screening room and a chocolate fountain.

A factory at Calle Écija 12 offers a workshop by prior reservation, where visitors can make their own Mantecados.

A tasting of four types of wine and tapas is available by prior reservation for 5 euros.

The A-92 is Andalusia’s main road transport artery. From Puente Genil-Herrera railway station, approximately eight kilometres from Estepa, there is a high-speed connection to Málaga, Córdoba and Madrid.

Alcolea Del Río, Los Palacios Y Villafranca, Fuentes De Andalucía, Olivares, Lora Del Río, Palma Del Rio, Los Rosales and Las Cañadillas.

Nature

The area around Estepa forms part of the Sierra del Becerrero, where numerous trails run. Hikers can collect, among other things, asparagus or esparto grass there.

The Sierra de Estepa is designated a Complejo Serrano de Interés Ambiental, reaches almost 850 metres and forms the highest elevation in the municipality of Estepa and its comarca.

The path surrounding the area connects the Manantial de Roya in the lower section with the road to Gilena in the upper section. Along the path, there are several natural viewpoints offering panoramas of Estepa and the comarca.

To the higher-level travel overview: Seville.