12 Things to do in Carmona and best things to see

Places to visit and things to do in Carmona

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In this article, you will find essential information about what to see and do in Carmona:

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• A few words about Carmona and its origins
• Where is Carmona located on the map?
• What to see in Carmona?
• What to do in Carmona?
• Booking accommodation
• Map of Carmona with places to see
• The main ferias in Carmona
• Some useful links
• Latest articles on Andalusia

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A few words about Carmona and its origins

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Carmona is a town in the province of Seville with a rich history, beauty and architectural and cultural heritage.

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It is one of Andalusia’s must-see destinations for lovers of heritage and authentic Andalusian culture. It is also considered one of the oldest towns in Spain, with 5,000 years of history.

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This town of 30,000 inhabitants is located 30 km from Seville and only 15 minutes from the airport.

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The origins of Carmona

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Its origins date back to the Neolithic period, making it one of the oldest settlements of all time.

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Throughout its history, it has had different names. For example, during the Roman period it was called Carmo, then Qarmuna during the period of Arab rule.

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Carmona was one of the nerve centres of Roman Hispania. It therefore has important Roman remains such as the amphitheatre and the Roman bridge, as well as one of the largest necropolises in Spain. As a sign of gratitude for its support, Julius Caesar granted the city the status of municipality and the right to mint coins.

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The city’s Latin motto reflects its grandeur: Sicut Lucifer lucet in Aurora ita in Vandalia Carmona (‘As the morning star shines at dawn, so Carmona shines in Andalusia’).

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Where is Carmona on the map?

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I’m planning my trip to Carmona

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• Book a hotel in Carmona

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• Hire a car at Seville or Malaga Airport

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• Book a tour of Carmona from Seville

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What to see in Carmona?

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There is so much to see in Carmona that it is recommended to visit the city with a guide to best discover its Roman and Arab heritage. If you want to explore the city on your own, here are the main places to visit:

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Note: further down in the article there is a map of Carmona with the locations of the places mentioned.

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1 – The Gate of Seville

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This gateway to the old town represents 3,000 years of history, dating back to the 9th century BC, to the Phoenician and then Carthaginian civilisations. It has, of course, undergone many changes during the Roman presence and finally during the Al-Andalus period.

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The transformations carried out by the Romans during the 1st century AD made Carmona ‘the strongest city in Baetica during Antiquity’, as Julius Caesar proclaimed.

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During the Islamic period, various transformations were carried out. We can see a horseshoe arch from the Caliphate period (10th century) and another pointed horseshoe arch from the Almohad period in the 12th century.

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The Seville Gate is one of the most representative elements of Carmona’s vast and rich architectural ensemble. It is the place that amazed me the most among all that can be seen in Carmona.

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2 – San Fernando Square

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This is undoubtedly the most famous square in Carmona. It is located in the old town and is also known as Arriba Square.

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Since ancient times, it has been at the heart of the city’s daily life. Originally, this space was the site of the Roman forum. The famous Via Augusta (the Roman road that led from Cadiz to the Pyrenees) passed through this forum!

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The buildings surrounding it are a mosaic of different styles and periods.

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There are two distinctive features of this square.

• The presence of numerous balconies, which can be explained by the square’s use as a venue for public performances (including bullfights at one time).
• In the centre of the square is a wrought iron lamp. It comes from the Ibero-American Exhibition in Seville in 1929.

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This square is the ideal place to stop for breakfast or just a coffee.

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3 – Alcazar of King Don Pedro

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This is a large fortress located at the highest point of Carmona and the entire Alcores region. Peter I had this building restored in the 14th century on top of an earlier Almohad fortification, which was itself built on the remains of another 10th-century fortification.

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In this way, he built a large palace similar to the one he had built in Seville.

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The interior of the Alcázar is accessed through a large double horseshoe arch that still bears traces of geometric paintings.

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Today, the Alcázar is a Parador, a luxury hotel and restaurant.

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It is one of the most renowned hotels in Andalusia. The old courtyard of the castle is now a car park, while the Casa Real houses the Parador’s lounge and bedrooms.

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Leaving the grounds of King Don Pedro’s Alcázar, if we continue along the wall, we can see a small oval-shaped fort that was built during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs at the end of the 15th century. It was the first artillery fort built on the Iberian Peninsula and is therefore very significant for analysing the evolution of military architecture.

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This thousand-year-old site, of Carthaginian origin, still impresses anyone who crosses its walls today. It is undoubtedly one of the most unmissable places to visit.

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4 – La Casa Palacio Marqués de las Torres

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This is one of the city’s palaces built after the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs. Today, this palace houses the city museum.

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5 – Cerezo Theatre

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The Cerezo Theatre was built in 1930 and named after Bernardo Enrique Cerezo.

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The origins of this theatre are quite unusual, as it is named after the person who invested the money for its construction. Cerezo, a native of Córdoba, won the lottery in this city and decided to donate the money to build a theatre.

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6 – The Central Market

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It was built in the 19th century in the style of the main Castilian squares.

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It is a large rectangular courtyard with four porticoed galleries and market halls.

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7 – Santa María de la Asunción Church

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This is Carmona’s cathedral. It was built on the site of an old mosque. This church is majestic! Below is just part of its bell tower.

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Inside, you can see parts of the original structure, including the minaret, which is now the bell tower. Its size, in the middle of the city, is impressive.

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8 – The Gate of Córdoba – Puerta de Córdoba –

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This gate has undergone many transformations. It was first built by the Romans, then modified under Al-Andalus.

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During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, the gate lost its original defensive function and military appearance. It was used to control the entry of goods and served as a customs post.

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Each century brought its own aesthetic changes to the gate.

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9 – San Pedro Church

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This 15th-century church is beautiful both inside and out. It is located right next to the old city wall and the Seville Gate. It too was built on the site of a former mosque.

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The tower of the Church of San Pedro is known as La Giraldilla because of its resemblance to the Giralda.

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Inside, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (Capilla Sacramental) is one of the most spectacular monuments of Sevillian Baroque architecture.

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NB: In the 15th century, many parishes were created and the first convents were also built. The oldest of these in our city is Santa Clara. There are also many other churches: the hermitage of San Mateo, the hermitage of San Antón, the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, the church of the Divine Saviour, the church of San Bartolomé, the church of San Blas, the church of San Felipe and the church of Santiago. Below is the charming Casa Harmandad de la Columna.

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9 – Roman amphitheatre

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The Roman amphitheatre is located just opposite the necropolis.

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At that time, it was used for shows featuring fights against wild animals, as well as artistic and cultural events.

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10 – The Roman Necropolis

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The Roman necropolis of Carmona is one of the most important Roman sites on the Peninsula thanks to its good state of preservation. It is also the first Roman site to have been open to visitors in Spain, since 1885.

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This necropolis dates back to the 1st century BC and was used until the 2nd century AD.

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At that time, the most common burial ritual was cremation. The collective mausoleum, consisting of an underground family chamber, is the most common type of burial in the Carmona necropolis.

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However, there are several hundred tombs, the most famous of which is the Elephant Tomb, with a sculpture of this animal at the entrance.

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NB: there is an underground car park beneath the Paseo del Estatuto (next to the Teatro del Cerezo). I invite you to visit this car park… There is a family mausoleum. According to studies of the site, this mausoleum must have belonged to an important Roman family from Carmona who lived between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. This mausoleum was discovered in 1995 during the construction of the car park.

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In conclusion, Carmona is a real time machine. When visiting the city with its ramparts, streets and palaces, you feel as if you are travelling back to the times of ancient civilisations and empires.

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NB: There is a road connecting Seville to Granada that passes through Carmona. The name, Washington Irving Route, refers to the American writer who visited the region in 1829. This route includes several stops at sites mentioned in his writings. It was created in 2000 and can be a great idea for a tour of Andalusia.

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What to do in Carmona close to Seville?

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Below you will find a number of activities to do in Seville and its surroundings. You can book them online today.

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In addition, you can book a guided tour of Carmona from Seville.

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Bonus: all activities can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the scheduled date.

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Right next to Carmona, you can also visit (and taste) one of the oldest gin distilleries.

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For those staying on the Costa del Sol and wishing to visit Andalusia, here are 9 magnificent  guided tours from Malaga, Torremolinos, Fuengirola or Benalmadena.

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Finally, not far from Carmona is Écija, a wonderful town well worth a visit.

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Book accommodation

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Below, you will find all the hotels and accommodation available in Carmona, after selecting your dates:

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Map of Carmona with the places to see mentioned in the article

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The main ferias in Carmona

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The Feria de Carmona

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Fiesta y romeria de la Virgen de la Gracia

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Some useful links

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• For those staying on the Costa del Sol and wishing to visit Andalusia, here are 9 magnificent  guided tours from Malaga, Torremolinos, Fuengirola or Benalmadena.

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• Rental car at Malaga or Seville airport

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The latest articles on Andalusia

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