Utrera (Seville)

Utrera is a town in the province of Seville and the autonomous community Andalusia. It has an area of 685 km² and a population of around 53,000.

Located between Seville’s rural area and the River Guadalquivir’s reservoirs, Utrera is renowned for its historical importance. It was the cradle of many popular flamenco artists and also offers an exquisite cuisine, being known for its mostachón flat cakes.

The first historic records that show evidence of there being a community in this area date to the Christian Reconquista.

In 1253, King Alfonso X shared out the conquered lands in the province of Seville and the territory where the town now stands was repopulated and had a significant Jewish community.

Between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, Utrera adopted an important role and experienced great prosperity, as can be observed from the numerous public works of that time. The turn of the nineteenth century brought new industrial impetus, which led to Utrera being granted “town” status in 1877.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Utrera and spend a considerable amount of time there. Its historic centre made up of churches, convents, palaces and tree-lined squares stands out from others in the region. In Santiago and Santa María neighbourhoods, visitors can discover real architectural treasures, rural flavours and the sound of flamenco.

One of Utrera’s most emblematic places is the sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación, the epicentre of the town’s devotion and a revered pilgrimage site.

Thirteenth-century Santiago el Mayor parish church, adjacent to Santa Resurrección hospital and the Gothic Santa María de la Mesa church are also noteworthy, especially the latter, whose tower is the tallest in the town. Visitors must not miss the Madres Carmelitas convent to admire the Mudejar ceiling or the Los Dolores church for its elliptical floor plan.

The most outstanding pieces of civil architecture are the Marqués de Tous house, the Enrique de la Cuadra theatre, the ancient Jewish neighbourhood, which retains the ‘El Niño Perdido’ passageway, and the Town Hall’s remarkable historicist rooms.