Chucena: Churches, Wine and Routes

Chucena offers several starting points for planning a trip: church art and architectural history, local festivals, wine, and routes through the cultural landscape. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, choose your travel dates based on the topic that interests you most. Dates and programmes for annual events may vary.

Churches and Art from Different Periods

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Estrella is a Renaissance-style church dating approximately from the last third of the 18th century. Its Baroque altarpiece was created by Julián Giménes in 1788. At the centre of the altarpiece is a depiction of Nuestra Señora de la Estrella, Chucena’s patron saint. The image dates from the late 16th century. The building, altarpiece and image therefore represent different periods: the image is older than the furnishings, while the church and altarpiece date from the 18th century.

The Ermita de la Divina Pastora, the templo de Alcalá de la Alameda, also has a complex architectural history. The original building dates from 1781 and has Renaissance features. Ambrosio de Figueroa and his son built the temple between 1773 and 1781; its present Baroque character dates from a renovation in 1779. The former church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y Santa Ana underwent a different historical development: after the population decline in the 19th century, it was converted into Chucena’s rural hermitage.

Festivals and Local Traditions

El Juego de las Chapas is listed as intangible cultural heritage in Chucena. A tradition held every May is the pilgrimage known as “el Romerito” on the esplanade of the Ermita de la Divina Pastora. La Fritá is a rural event held at Dehesa del Perú and organised by the Hermandad del Rocío de Chucena to raise funds. Its dates and format may vary.

Another seasonal highlight is the Feria del Vino de Chucena, held every November at the end of the grape harvest. The programme includes wine tastings and activities pairing wine with food, as well as workshops and activities for children. This gives you a clear distinction when planning your trip between the event in May and the wine fair in November. Check the event dates and programme for your travel period.

Wine, Haciendas and Countryside

The cooperative’s Chucena must is made primarily from the Zalema grape variety grown in its members’ vineyards. At Dehesa del Perú, where La Fritá is held, holm oaks and cork oaks characterise a natural area described as such. The two topics represent different aspects of the landscape and local life: viticulture on the one hand, and an oak-dominated natural area on the other.

In the courtyard of Hacienda de Alcalá, you can see the remains of an old oil mill dating to the 16th century. Hacienda Alcalá-Alameda is one of Chucena’s privately owned haciendas, whose outdoor areas can be visited. The two places therefore offer different historical points of interest: at Hacienda de Alcalá, the remains of the oil mill stand out; at Alcalá-Alameda, visitors can explore the outdoor areas.

Routes through Chucena’s Cultural Landscape

The Ruta Haciendas de Chucena follows the Camino de Chucena and the Camino del Puerto, then joins the A-481 and continues along Calle Torralba. The route passes through a very flat, traditional cultural landscape characterised mainly by olive groves and fields of cereal crops and sunflowers. As route conditions may change, check the route before planning your trip.

The Ruta Manzanilla-Chucena is a linear route of 20 kilometres, with a moderate difficulty level and a stated duration of 2.5 hours. It is designated for birdwatching, cycling, nature observation and hiking. Along the route, the path passes through riparian vegetation with holm oaks, poplars and white poplars. Its length, course, difficulty and duration give you specific points of reference for including this route in your trip plans.

If you would like to combine a hotel stay with an event, May and November offer different seasonal reference points. For a focus on architectural and artistic history, the churches, hermitage and haciendas are the main attractions; the routes complement these themes with specific information about distances and landscapes.

Discover more destinations: Fuenteheridos, Puerto Moral, Molares, Corterrangel, San Silvestre De Guzmán, Encinasola, Isla Cristina, El Cerro De Andévalo.

For the broader travel overview: Huelva.