City Walls and Rabitas: Almohade Vestiges

The Morisco kingdom in Seville and Huelva has a rich and complex history. Following the Reconquista, many Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula were forced to convert to Christianity or face expulsion. Those who converted, known as Moriscos, continued to live in Seville, Huelva, and other parts of Andalusia. Despite their conversion, Moriscos often maintained their Islamic customs and traditions in secret. Seville and Huelva became significant centres for the Morisco population, especially after the rebellion of the Alpujarras in the late 16th century, which led to the relocation of many Moriscos to these cities. The Morisco communities in Seville and Huelva contributed to the cultural and economic life of the region, leaving behind a legacy that can still be seen in the architecture and urban layout of both cities.

Seville

Seville is the centre of this route. The homeland of Al Mutamid, who lamented over it in his verses, became, with the Almohades, a major city. It is to them that we owe a good part of the constructions of the city, the vestiges of which we have inherited.

Giralda: The striking minaret of the Almohade Aljama Mosque (12th C.), later converted into a bell tower in the 16th Century. (See on map)
Patio de las Naranjas: The courtyard of the Almohade Aljama Mosque with its two entrances. (See on map)
Church of El Salvador: Near this church, one can see the remains of the main Sevillian primitive mosque, that of Ibn Adabbás (9th C.). (See on map)
City Walls: The best-conserved stretch of the Roman city walls, rebuilt by the Almoravids and extended by the Almohades and Christians, is found between the Gate of Cordoba and the Arch of the Macarena. (See on map)
Tower of Abdelazis: One of the towers situated between the Alcázar Palace and the river. (See on map)
Tower of Silver: Another tower located between the Alcázar Palace and the river. (See on map)
Tower of Gold: A 13th-century tower situated between the Alcázar Palace and the river. (See on map)
Patio del Yeso: A late 12th or early 13th-century Almohade construction inside the Alcázar Palace grounds. (See on map)
Baths of La Reina Mora: The most important baths from the Taifa period conserved in Seville. (See on map)

Aljarafe Region

Moving up towards the Aljarafe, we come to Castilleja de la Cuesta, where the Hermitage of Cuartrovitas is located in the district of Bollullos de la Mitación. In the chapel of the Cemetery of Aznalcóllar, one can see the ruins of the only Islamic Zawya conserved in Andalusia.

Hermitage of Cuartrovitas: Located in the district of Bollullos de la Mitación. (See on map)
Cemetery of Aznalcóllar: The chapel here contains the ruins of the only Islamic Zawya conserved in Andalusia. (See on map)

Villalba del Alcor

In the Church of San Bartolomé in Villalba del Alcor, an old Almohade ribat can be visited.

Church of San Bartolomé: Visit the old Almohade ribat. (See on map)

Niebla

This first itinerary may come to an end with the City walls of Niebla, with their deep red towers, battlements, and gateways which evoke the Medieval past of the town.

City Walls of Niebla: Featuring deep red towers, battlements, and gateways. (See on map)

Almonaster la Real

The recalcitrant traveller must visit Almonaster la Real to see the 10th-century mosque contained within its castle, now converted into a hermitage, the mihrab of which is possibly the oldest in existence in Western Islam.

Mosque of Almonaster la Real: A 10th-century mosque within a castle, now a hermitage. (See on map)

Carmona

Itinerary 2 takes us to Carmona, where an Almohade mosque is conserved in the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Patio) of the Church of Santa María. Of the walled grounds, of Roman origin, there remain stretches of its walls, towers, and the Gate of Seville.

Patio de los Naranjos: The courtyard of the Church of Santa María, where an Almohade mosque is conserved. (See on map)
Gate of Seville: Part of the walled grounds of Roman origin. (See on map)

Marchena

Islamic constructions have also survived in the two Alcázar Palaces of the town. Marchena still has a large part of its 11th-century city walls, in some places incorporated into later constructions, with numerous fortified towers, arches, and gateways.

Alcázar Palaces: Two palaces with surviving Islamic constructions. (See on map)
City Walls of Marchena: Large parts of the 11th-century walls with fortified towers, arches, and gateways. (See on map)

Palma del Río

A similar example is the walled city of Palma del Río.

City Walls of Palma del Río: The walled city with numerous fortified towers, arches, and gateways. (See on map)

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