Discover Olivares

Olivares brings together different chapters of its architectural and artistic history with religious traditions. A cultural focus is a good way to choose what to explore: you can take in Baroque architecture, historic works of art and the history of Holy Week. The buildings belong to different periods; this contrast in time helps put each sight into context.

Architectural history between the Colegiata and the palace

The Colegiata de Olivares is a Baroque church dating from the 17th century. Its movable cultural heritage includes works by María and Luisa Roldán, Ruiz Gijón, Montes de Oca, José de Escobar, Bernardo de Cabrera and Matías de Brunenque. The painter Juan de Roelas is also associated with the town: he is buried in the abbots’ crypt and is considered a pioneer of Naturalism in the Sevillian school.

The Palacio del Conde Duque de Olivares tells a different story of architectural history. Don Pedro de Guzmán y Zúñiga, the first Count of Olivares, had it built in the first half of the 16th century. In the 17th century, his grandson Don Gaspar de Guzmán y Pimentel, the Conde Duque de Olivares, extended the palace. The Renaissance façade is 62 metres long and symmetrically designed. Its scale and clearly articulated form give the architecture a different character from the Baroque Colegiata.

The Torre de San Antonio adds an earlier phase to the picture. It is an example of Almohad military architecture and was probably built in the 12th century AD. Arrow slits survive on all sides of the second floor. The Pósito o Alfolí, in turn, combines an earlier everyday function with architectural craftsmanship: the building served as a grain store, holding reserves to be used in times of shortage. In its second section, intersecting arches support small domes. A covered, tunnel-like street called El Camarín connects the Pósito with the Colegiata.

Sacred art and traditions

The chapel of the Hermandad de la Santa Vera-Cruz was built in the second half of the 16th century as the chapel of the former Hospital de la Sangre de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Its main altar comes from the former Franciscan monastery founded by the Counts of Olivares in Castilleja de la Cuesta. The chapel also houses an anonymous 16th-century crucifix.

The Casa Hermandad-Museo de la Santa Vera Cruz showcases Olivares’ Holy Week heritage. Its exhibits include goldsmith’s work, various embroideries, brotherhood insignia and liturgical objects. Liturgical and ceremonial items belonging to the brotherhood are displayed there throughout the year; access arrangements may vary. The chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores is one of the Colegiata’s two freestanding chapels. Its own dome, wall paintings and numerous votive offerings gave it the historic name “Chapel of Miracles”.

The Museo Hermandad de la Soledad offers another perspective on religious art. It has an exhibition room displaying religious furnishings and objects of worship. Its collection also includes a polychrome image of the recumbent Christ in the Late Gothic style, dating from the first half of the 15th century. It is considered one of the few surviving examples of its kind in Andalusia. Comparing the works reveals different forms of religious furnishing alongside a single image whose period is clearly identified.

The Salón Alfarje Grande in the Palacio houses a permanent exhibition of Baroque costumes made by the Gaspar de Guzmán workshop. Check the access arrangements before visiting. This lets you explore the palace not only through its building phases, but also through the costumes on display.

Guided tour and other themes

The Ruta del Conde Duque is a guided tour of Olivares’ historic buildings and presents the municipality’s historical and cultural heritage. Information on booking a guided visit is available; check the latest details when planning. The Ruta app supplements the tour with maps, audio guides, video guides, virtual visits and augmented-reality depictions of the period. Three virtual visits can be accessed via smartphone or PC. This allows you to choose between a guided tour and a digital exploration of history without treating the two as the same experience.

The celebration of San Blas also brings together religious and local traditions. It has a history stretching back more than 400 years; local bakeries make loaves, Roscos picados and doves shaped from bread dough for the occasion. In Olivares, a Mass dedicated to Saint Blaise is part of the tradition. The religious celebration stems from the devotion to the saint promoted by Gaspar de Guzmán, the Conde Duque de Olivares, and his wife.

The protected Corredor Verde del Guadiamar landscape forms part of the wider geographical setting. It includes Olivares and covers an area of 2,706.8 hectares. Together, the buildings, collections, religious customs and this landscape provide a varied backdrop for your stay. Depending on your interests, you can focus on architecture, sacred art, the history of Holy Week or the digital interpretation of local heritage.

For the wider travel overview: Seville.