 Palacio Peñaflor, the longest balcony in Spain | ||
| Écija | ||
| Residents | 39.893 (2020) | |
|---|---|---|
| height | 100 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.ecija.es | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Écija is a city in the Andalusian Seville Province.
background
Écija is in the frying pan of Andalusia. It can get very hot here in summer. The city on the Rio Genil is also called City of towersbecause there are many churches. As early as the 8th century BC Écija was settled. There should have been a small village. The Romans conquered Écija in 200 BC. They named the village Astigi and developed it into a major city with cobbled streets, fresh water supply and sewage system. Forums, temples, thermal baths and an amphitheater were built. Astigi became an administrative capital in Bética. Olive groves were planted and olive oil created new wealth. The city became a bishopric under the Visigoths. In the battle of the Rio Guadalete in July 711 against the advancing Moors, the Visigoth king Roderich fell. Écija became one of the first Moorish cities. From then on it was part of the Moorish province of al-Andalus. The Moors introduced irrigation systems and cultivated cotton. After the Caliphate of Cordoba fell, it fell Medina Astiggia under the control of various Taifa kingdoms. The Catholic King Ferdinand III recaptured Écija from the Almohads in 1240. He distributed the land to the nobles and the church and created large estates. Many historical buildings fell victim to the earthquake that destroyed Lisbon in 1755. The 18th century was the golden age. What can be seen today in the historical building fabric goes back essentially to the 18th century. Many baroque churches and palaces were built in the 18th century. The historic old town of Écija shows the best baroque buildings and works of art in Andalusia and Spain. The cladding of the church towers with tiles (azulejos) should be emphasized.
Ecija was known throughout Spain as the city of shoemakers as early as the Middle Ages. The cloth industry also flourished here at that time. Wool and flannel towels were made, and linen and silk were processed. Grain, wine and cotton grew on the fertile plains.
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is Seville. The airport is also served from Germany.
By train
In the street
You can get to Écija from Seville or Cordoba on the Autovia del Sur, the A4 (E5). You can now park in the city center because under the Plaza de España a parking garage was built in 2006-2007, which should be completed in the meantime. From here you can explore the city on foot.
mobility
The most important and worth seeing buildings can be reached on foot from the Plaza de España.
Tourist Attractions
Churches, palaces and mosaics from Roman times are the main attractions of the beautiful city.
Roman mosaics
In Écija you can find the largest and most artistically valuable roman mosaics in Spain, they say in Écija. The best examples are in the historical museum Museo Histórico Municipal issued. In the town hall in Plaza España there is a mosaic from Roman times. (Also in the Roman foundation of Mérida, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, magnificent mosaics can be seen in the Roman Museum.)
Churches
There are twelve churches in the city.
- Iglesia de San Juan. The Iglesia de San Juan dates back to the 16th century. Numerous renovations were carried out later. The church tower, the most beautiful in Écija, was built in the 18th century. It is covered with colorful tiles and lights up. Worth seeing!
- Igelesia Santa Cruz. The Igelesia Santa Cruz stands on historical ground. Two capitals in the north inner courtyard are reminiscent of the Visigothic period. At the high altar is a sarcophagus from the 5th century with biblical scenes. The Mosque of Écija stood here under Moorish rule. The church tower was built over the remains of the former minaret. After Reconquista (Recapture by the Catholic Kings) began in 1240 with the construction of a new church in the Mudejar style. In the northern courtyard there is still an arch with stucco ornaments. The 1755 earthquake destroyed the church. After that, a new church was built in neoclassical style. The construction period lasted from 1778 to 1836. Then the money ran out. The church remained unfinished. It has three naves with beautiful baroque works of art.
- Iglesia de Santa Maria. The Iglesia de Santa Maria in the Plaza de España is very richly decorated with azulejos (tiles).
- Marienkirche. The Marienkirche stands in the Plaza Santa Ana. The Mother of God can also be found here Virgen del Valle, St. Paul and the statues of the patron saints of the city of Écija from the 18th century. The church dates from the 18th century. It was built on the remains of a Mudejar-style church from the 16th / 17th century. Century built. The main portal is baroque. It was designed by Antonio Macías de Figueroa. The high arch above the portal makes the portal original. The plan of the church is rectangular. A severe earthquake in 1755 damaged the church tower. Its construction is reminiscent of the famous Giralda in Seville. Next to the main portal is a painting from the original Mudejar style church. A panel of St. Lawrence, surrounded by St. Sebastian, St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Fulgentius from around 1570 can be seen above a relief alabaster burial site from the 14th century. The classic choir stalls created by Juan de Mesa are simple but very valuable. This also applies to the Virgin de la Antigua by Villegas Marmolejo's portrait of Mary from 1575. The interesting archaeological collection includes, among other things. the Roman marble head Germánico.
Palaces
Seven magnificent palaces from the 18th century are still preserved and some can be visited. The nobles were named after the Reconquista wealthy as large landowners and they wanted to show their wealth.
- Palace de Peñaflor. The magnificent palace was built between 1700 and 1775. He is a historically artistic building and is currently being renovated. The building is on Calle de los Caballeros. The flower and landscape ornaments in the stairwell are worth seeing. The building has the longest wrought iron balcony in Spain.
- Palacio Benamejí, at the Plaza de la Constitution. He houses that Museo Historico Municipal. Admission is free, only climbing the tower costs 1 €. You can see the collection of prehistoric metal pieces, three warrior figures, the Placa de Écija (Table of Écija), goldsmiths and magnificent Roman mosaics.
- Palacio Valhermoso. Privately owned, it cannot be viewed. From the outside you can see the plateresque portal.
- Palacio Palma. Erected over a Dominican monastery. It can be visited (3 €). You can see furniture and decorations from the 18th and 19th centuries Palacio Santaella is privately owned. Visitors are allowed to view the entrance with the stairs and the dome. Paintings similar to those in the Palacio Peñaflor can be seen in the stairwell.
- Palacio des Justicia. The courthouse gets the most attention from most of the Écija visitors. The stucco work in the patio is reminiscent of the Nasrid palace of the Alhambra.
Places
Until the middle of the 19th century, festivals and celebrations such as bullfights and religious occasions such as processions took place in the squares.
- Plaza de España. The largest square is the Plaza de España. A parking garage was built under the square in early 2007. The buildings around the plaza have colonnades, large windows, balconies and arcades. They served as stands. The "tiers" were rented out on special occasions. At the Plaza de España there are two "observation towers" belonging to the Benamejí and Peñaflor families, which were built in the 18th century. Also the town hall (Ayuntamiento from the 18th century. In the town hall you can admire a Roman mosaic.
- Plaza de la Constitution. The historical museum is located in the Plaza de la Constitution.
activities
shop
kitchen
They are typical of Écija Gato called soup made from garlic, peeled tomatoes and green peppers with white bread and eggs. Also the spinach dish Espinacas labradas as well as the asparagus dish Esparragos trigueros are famous. The Rabo de Torro (Oxtail) is spicy with chili peppers and peppercorns. On the website turismoecija.com you can find a list of restaurants and hotels in Écija.
nightlife
accommodation
security
health
Practical advice
- Tourist Information, Plaza de España. E-mail: [email protected]. Open: Mon - Fri 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Sat Sun 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
trips
Via the A4 to Seville (86 km) or Córdoba (53 km). Nearby are the places worth seeing Carmona (54 km) and Osuña (36 km).
literature
Web links
- turismoecija.com - Information about Ecija in German and other languages
