One of the prides of Andalusia is the territory that forms the northern mountain of Seville, also known as the Sierra Norte de Sevilla, the place that we are now going to introduce to you and which we are sure will captivate you. And we are not surprised that the locals of Seville are so proud of this area, because it is an authentic marvel to the eyes.
It comprises the Sierra Norte Natural Park and, in terms of the province of Seville, it is a quarter of the size of the province. It is an area full of nature, with pastures and forests dominated by species such as cork oaks and holm oaks.
It is precisely because of the grandeur of its natural territory that in each of the eleven municipalities that make up this territory, and in its green areas, it is very common to do adventure sports and outdoor activities, especially hiking routes.
One of the best known is the greenway of Vía Verde de la Plata, which was created to connect Seville with the Cerro del Hierro, a Natural Monument, thus enabling the iron extracted from the mine to be transported more easily. Nowadays it has been made into a hike of more than 18 kilometres from which there are paths such as the one that will take you to one of its natural jewels: the Cascadas del Huéznar (Huéznar Waterfalls).
This waterfall is located in the municipality of San Nicolás del Puerto, where you will find a curious river beach thanks to the Arroyo de los Parrales, a charming village that is not to be missed, as is Cazalla de la Sierra, one of the most important towns due to the great amount of heritage it has. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Spain and the summer residence of Felipe V. Nowadays, the most outstanding features are the bullring, the Mercado de Abastos and the Cartuja de Cazalla, an emblematic monument standing only two kilometres away from the town. If you want to try some aguardiente, a typical liquor of the area, this is the perfect place!
Another significant village to visit in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla is Constantina, which stands out for the many slopes in its streets that lead up to the castle. On your walk, you can enjoy the tiles decorating the façades, reminiscent of the Mudejar-style period, especially in the Morería, the town’s Moorish quarter.
You might have heard of Guadalcanal from this place thanks to its involvement in a famous battle during the Second World War. In this village, the Plaza de España awaits you, around which the streets begin to form. One of the most important buildings is La Almona, one of the oldest buildings in the whole region of Seville, dating back to the year 1307.
Finally, make sure to save an extra day to enjoy the village of Alanís, where you will be able to see the old shepherds' shelters at every turn and, always in the background, its castle, whose parade ground is worth visiting too.
Alanís is famous for its fiestas, especially one of them: the Jornadas Medievales, a festival in which all the inhabitants of the village take part, turning it into a village from the Middle Ages. Parades, fireworks, music and gastronomy are the highlights of this lively festival held at the end of August.
And yes, the gastronomy in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla is exquisite, with an undisputed star product: the Iberian pork. It is used to produce chorizo sausages and delicious Iberian cured ham, and it is also included in dishes such as migas molineras (a local variation of the traditional Spanish fried breadcrumbs). Big game meats are also an important part of this region’s recipe book. For those with a sweet tooth, honey and cinnamon will be the two main ingredients that will turn any meal in this region into a sweet sensation.
Enjoy Seville’s Sierra Norte!
