Carmona: The Most Charming Town of the Dead

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Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

A town with Roman and Moorish roots, Carmona is a special Andalusian gem with its rolling hills and medieval city walls.

Popularly known for its necropolis (a large, ancient cemetery), Carmona is ironically a charming and refreshing place to spend the day. My family and I were here early this month visiting relatives in Seville, which is a short 29 kilometers away by car.

Carmona had been on my list of places to revisit. I’d come here as a college student on a bus one early Saturday morning — with other hungover college kids trying to get the most out of our study abroad experience. This time, I’ve come back armed with a better appreciation (and I’m much older and wiser 🙂 ).

Our first stop was the Parador de Carmona, a former castle built in the 14th century by the Moors. The paradores in Spain are national treasures. They’re historical monuments that have been converted into accommodations, attracting tourists who want to relive Spain’s medieval history.

Parador de Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

Upon entering the grand hall, we sat down to have a pastry and some morning coffee. The brick walls, high-vaulted ceilings, and majestic chandeliers added to the medieval atmosphere. The sunlight shone through the windows, giving a warm vibrance to the room.

Parador de Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

Carmona is known for its torta inglesa, or English cake. It’s a pastry filled with cabello de ángel  (a sweetened squash filling) topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It pairs really nicely with an unsweetened cafe con leche. 

«Tortainglesa». Publicado bajo la licencia Dominio público vía Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tortainglesa.JPG#mediaviewer/File:Tortainglesa.JPG.
Torta inglesa. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

The prime seats of the parador are in the interior patio area, where you can soak up some rays, listen to the trickling fountain, and enjoy the Moorish pillars and arches.

Parador de Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

We were lucky to spend this winter day with not one cloud in the sky. And for that, we were able to appreciate the glorious, stately presence of the Church of San Pedro with the sun right above it. Its bell tower might look familiar if you’ve been to Seville — it’s a replica of Seville’s famous La Giralda.Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

Generally, I’m a fan of change. But being here made me thankful they’ve preserved Carmona, this exquisite slice of history. Its cobblestoned streets, white buildings, rounded arches, and fortified walls make this town authentically Andalusian.

Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

Carmona. Latitudefortyone.comCarmona. Latitudefortyone.com

We wanted to see the plaza de abastos, the city’s market, where I expected to see local folks hawking fruits and veggies. Instead, it was an wide open plaza with three or four bars and a few people having some salmorejo and wine. But that’s okay. I just loved this white neo-classic architecture. Built in the 16th century, the plaza de abastos was the site of the convent of Santa Catalina until 1837.

The day was too perfect. We had some cervezas and patatas bravas while our kids ran around with their arms open wide — as wide as the plaza. Freedom!

Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

Ending our day on a somewhat dark note, we headed to the necropolis, which is on the other side of town, away from the old center. Here lie the cremated remains of 900 souls from the fourth century AD.

Necropolis Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

There are lots of stairs to climb down, down, down. And in a few places, there are niches in the rock, where the urns of whole families are still intact.

Photo by Larry Wentzel.
Photo by Larry Wentzel.

Also, you get a sweet view of the lush green plains below. Breathe it in!
Carmona. Latitudefortyone.com

What do you think? Have you been here?

By Justine Ancheta

California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).

5 comments

  1. Carmona looks lovely, I’d like to visit one day! The sun-drenched pictures make it especially inviting in the dark of winter…

    Did you study abroad in Sevilla?

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