Écija: City of Towers and Historic Traces

When looking for a hotel in Écija, it helps to first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: the city’s architecture, its archaeological history, or an activity on the Río Genil. Écija offers a range of options, from Baroque and Mudéjar buildings to routes and canoe or raft trips. The places and information below show how these different areas of interest compare.

Architecture and historic buildings

Écija is nicknamed the “City of Towers”: eleven towers and nine bell gables rise above the cityscape, alongside numerous churches, palaces and viewpoints. The name points to a diverse architectural heritage that is not limited to a single type of building.

The Palacio de Benamejí is an outstanding example of Écija’s 18th-century Baroque architecture and is listed as a Historic-Artistic Monument. The Iglesia de Santa María also dates from the 18th century, but was built over an earlier Mudéjar church. A Baroque palace and a church with an older predecessor therefore represent different historical connections.

The Convento de las Teresas also brings together several periods of construction: it is located in the former palace of the Counts of Palma, a Mudéjar building dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. The Iglesia de Santa María also houses an archaeological collection that includes a Roman marble head. Écija was declared a Historic-Artistic Ensemble in 1966. During your stay, you can therefore see the city through a lens that brings individual buildings and broader historical connections together.

Archaeological traces

The Plaza de Armas archaeological site preserves Turdetanian and Roman remains, as well as sections of the wall of a Muslim castle. Its settlement layers span from the beginnings of Écija, around the 8th century BC, to the present day. The site thus encompasses a long chronological sequence and several distinct historical traces.

Plaza de Armas and the collection at Santa María offer different points of reference: the former is an archaeological site with remains from various periods, while the latter is an archaeological collection that includes a Roman marble head. If you want to understand Écija’s history, this distinction between a site and a collection is a helpful starting point.

Routes and activities

The Vía Verde de la Campiña, also known as the Camino Natural de La Campiña Sevillana, runs through the municipality of Écija along the former railway line from Marchena to Valchillón. The route follows the old railway track.

Écija also has approved routes for equestrian tourism. As availability may change, it is best to check the latest information before planning around them.

For canoe and raft trips on the Río Genil, the Club de Piragüismo offers activities for different skill levels. No previous experience is required; equipment is provided and an instructor accompanies the activity. You should confirm availability before your trip. This lets you consider the offering as a separate activity focus, without conflating it with the historic routes.

Further historical points of interest

Parque San Pablo is also part of the historic heritage: it is protected as a historic garden in Écija’s heritage catalogue. The Plaza de Abastos market was built in 1844. This date places the building in the 19th century and adds another element of the city’s history to its architectural and archaeological points of interest. Taken together, the places and routes mentioned offer different facets to consider when choosing the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations: Cañada De Rabadán, Pedrera, El Coronil, Las Pajanosas, San Nicolás Del Puerto, Cerro de Hierro, Los Rosales, Guillena.

For the broader travel overview: Sevilla.