Sierra Norte de Sevilla

The Parque Natural Sierra de Norte de Sevilla covers 438, 572 acres (177,484 hectares). Your first stop should be El Robeldo Visitors Centre 1km from El Pedroso, where you´ll see fascinating exhibitions, audo-visual productions and leaflets about the Sierra de Norte. You can also pick up details of the 18 walking routes in the park, four of which are around Constantina and nine around Cazalla de la Sierra.

The old railway track, now used by cyclists and walkers runs between Constantina and Cazalla de la Sierra and is a great place to spot the Golden Eagles, Vultures and Black Storks that live here as well as other wildlife such as otters, wild cats, boar, and Fallow deer.

Towns of the Sierra de Norte de Sevilla

Constantina, a delightful small town, is the park´s main medieval town and has some lovely old monuments as well as a castle.

The El Mirador de Hamapega, just after Alanis is a must visit with cameras at the ready for the view from the 2,976 ft (907 m) viewing point, it is one of the highest points in Sevilla province.

Cazalla de la Sierra, another charming town worthy of a visit, was formed in 1594 with the 14th century mudéjar-style church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación and its later Renaissance and Barroque additions.

Horse riding and bike hire are available in the park Finca El Berrocal, Carretera Real de la Jara, tel. 667 553 855, offers 1 -2 hour rides and Bicicletas Verde Vía, www.bicicletasverdevia.com near the railway station Cazalla-Constantina at the beginning of the Vía Verde provide daily bike including helmet and route maps. The route provides access to the Cerro del Hierro an ancient

La Cartuja de Cazalla, (www.cartujadecazalla.com) monastery which began its life as a Moorish mosque, becoming a royal hunting lodge after the reconquest, it was used as a royal hunting lodge and guest house which due its location near to the Silver Road or Ruta de la Plata it attracted pilgrims walking to Santiago de Compostela.

After the monks repaired the awful damage and the civil war, Isabella II became queen and needing to replenish their funds the finance minister turned to Spain´s second largest landowners the monasteries and expropriated their wealth while closing most of them down. Today there are only four Carthusian monasteries Spain and none in Andalucia.