Small towns in Spain: Carmona

Carmona

Carmona is a charming little town located in Seville, a province in southern Spain. The first thing you will notice about Carmona, after you have passed through the Puerta de Sevilla, is a Giralda-like tower. The Giralda used to be aminaret (turret attached to a mosque) before it was changed into a bell tower for Seville Cathedral. Next, you will notice the cobbled streets lined with churches and mansions. The architectural style in Carmona is Mudejar (a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic with Arabic). A market takes place weekly in the Plaza San Fernando selling seasonal fruits and vegetables. Therefore, customers can be sure that they are purchasing delicious-tasting, high-quality produce. The Seville April Fair takes place in Carmona afortnight after Semana Santa. The party lasts for one week and the main themes are flamenco and bullfighting. When the moors occupied Carmona, they built walls around it and fountains and palaces within it, all of which are still visible today.  In the 13^th century, Ferdinand III bestowed a Latin motto upon the town of Carmona: "As the Morning-star shines in the Dawn, so shines Carmona in Andalusia". The Mediterranean climate of Carmona is distinguished by long, hot summers and cold, wet winters.

Tapas and traditional dishes  

There is a famous tapas route in Carmona known as the Ruta de las Tapas that is marked out with little blue and white flags. Carmona has some famous dishes including a chicken soup called picadillo and thistles which are very popular in almost every province of Spain. They are usually eaten in stews during springtime; however they can also be used in salads and soups. In Carmona, there is a popular Spanish dish called tagarnina which is a mixture of thistles and scrambled eggs. Three desserts typical of the town of Carmona are torrija, polvorón and porridge sprinkled with cinnamon. Torrija consists of a slice of bread that is soaked in milk or wine with honey and spices before being dipped in egg and fried in a pan with olive oil. Polvorón is a soft, crumbly Spanish shortbread made of flour, sugar, milk and nuts. It is possible to pick up a box of sweet treats made by the local nuns by paying a visit to a nearby convent. An alcoholic beverage called Anise made from Anise seeds is distilled and packaged in Carmona. Other well-known drinks made from Anise seeds include French Absinthe, German Jagermeister and Italian Sambuca.

Various films have been set in Carmona including Nadie Conoce A Nadie (Nobody Knows Anybody) in 1999. The film was set in Seville during holy week and followed an aspiring novelist as he composed crossword puzzles to make extra cash. Carmona boasts a high level of luxury hotels to cater to its film star audience. The Casa de Carmona for example, is a charming 16th century renaissance palace with 33 splendid bedrooms. The Casa de Carmona opened in 1991 and is a family-run business offering affordable rates. 75% of Carmona’s hotels fall within the 4-5 star category.         

The Roman burial ground in Carmona is a fascinating place to visit containing more than 900 graves, some of which date back to the 2^nd century. Graves of deceased persons of wealthier families are easily spotted given that they are much larger. Some contain a statue of the departed and stone benches for funeral banquets. The tradition of a feast for the friends of the deceased came from the Romans. Whether you are a keen historian or not, Carmona is an excellent place to visit.