Paterna Del Campo: Heritage, Festivals and Landscape

Paterna Del Campo offers a variety of ways to enjoy a stay: historic churches and festival traditions sit alongside archaeological sites, wetlands and routes through forest landscapes.

Churches, a fortress and historical landmarks

The Iglesia de San Bartolomé was built on the site of an earlier mosque after Alfonso X conquered Paterna. Its Puerta del Perdón features Mudéjar brickwork and pointed arches. Another historic structure is the reconstructed Roman aqueduct in the Colina Verde district, which carried water from the Fuente del Alpízar to Itálica. Near Tejada la Nueva, the Fuente de los Frailes includes the remains of Roman baths connected to a spring of the same name.

The Castillo del Alpízar is an ancient fortress with a square layout, a central parade ground and four towers. Its features include an Almohad portal dating from the 11th century. Important for your planning: it is not possible to visit the interior; only the exterior can be viewed.

The Ermita de San Isidro dates from 1955 and is considered an example of the region’s vernacular religious architecture. A popular romería takes place nearby in May; exact dates and arrangements may change. The Capilla de la Santísima Vera Cruz de Abajo dates from 1980 and has a façade decorated with elaborate tiles. The Santísima Cruz de Abajo inside is made of cedar, gilded with fine gold and polychromed. The sculptor José Oliva Castilla created it in 1956.

Festivals throughout the year

The Semana Santa in Paterna del Campo is considered one of the oldest and most established celebrations in the Condado. The Romería de San Isidro Labrador in the Aldea de Tujena follows a calendar-based rule: it takes place on the Sunday closest to 15 May. For the Romería del Rocío, the Paterna brotherhood sets out on the Thursday before Whit Monday and spends the night in El Cortijillo. Since the dates change each year, it is worth checking the dates for your travel year in advance.

During the Corpus Christi celebration, an 18th-century silver monstrance is carried in the procession. The Festividad del Carmen is celebrated on 16 July; its procession dates back to the Carmelites’ presence in Paterna in the 18th century. The celebration of the Santa Cruz de la Victoria features handmade paper flowers, made throughout the year by older women from the town. Festival dates depend on the September programme for that year.

Wetlands, rocky landscapes and nature

The Paraje de El Chorrito wetland is characterised by freshwater springs and dense vegetation. The Río Corumbel runs through the area; the local geology has also formed small caves there. At another stretch of the river, on the left bank of the Río Corumbel, lie Las Lapas de San Salvador: caves and rock overhangs in a cliff formed by erosion, about 180 metres high. The habitat of these caves and overhangs dates back to prehistoric times.

A well-preserved wild olive grove shapes the landscape of the Acebuchal del Alpízar. Most of the area is under special protection; it also includes private land. Species that can be seen there include genets, polecats, wildcats, kestrels, goshawks and short-toed snake eagles. Each feature—wetland, cliff and wild olive grove—gives the landscape its own character, without implying a particular route or a shared circular trail.

Routes and possible highlights

The route through the La Pata del Caballo woodland begins in the Campiña de Tejada near Paterna. It crosses olive groves and follows forest tracks to viewpoints near the Casa de los Carneros and the Torre del Cejo. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out. There are also routes in the Arroyo de Tejada and Río Corumbel area that can be travelled on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or in off-road vehicles.

A hiking route from the Aldea de Tujena to old lime kilns leads to historic installations in the surrounding Serranía. This route requires the company of someone familiar with the area. The lime kilns are associated with the production of quicklime and mortar, a now-abandoned craft rooted in a millennia-old tradition found throughout the Mediterranean region.

There are several different distance figures to consider: the Ruta Paterna del Campo a Berrocal is 32 kilometres long and runs from Paterna towards Berrocal. It leads from the Condado into the mountains of the mining basin, whose history goes back thousands of years and which form part of the protected Río Tinto landscape. An approximately 11-kilometre hiking route connects Villalba del Alcor and Paterna del Campo, combining nature with historic heritage. The Gran Premio Villa de Paterna mountain-biking route starts on Calle Ramón Carande and is 88.8 kilometres long; its specifications may change from one edition to another. The mountain-biking event takes place in October; exact dates and participation requirements may vary.

The Ruta Algarviana also runs east to west through Paterna del Campo and forms part of a route that includes Seville and Huelva, among other places. The different distance figures can help you assess the scope of your planned activities; check actual trail conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Veredas, El Cerro De Andévalo, El Almendro, Corterrangel, Palos De La Frontera, Berrocal, Villalba Del Alcor, San Juan Del Puerto.

For the regional travel overview: Huelva.