Constantina

Constantina takes its name from the Roman town of Constantina, though some scholars dispute a direct link with the Emperor Constantine. The area was settled from prehistoric times, and there is evidence of Iberian, Roman, and Visigothic occupation. Under Islamic rule the town became a prosperous settlement within the sierra, controlling the mountain passes toward Seville.

Ferdinand III of Castile took it in 1240 during his sweep through the region. The town prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries as a centre of agricultural production — olive oil, wine, and later cork — and the old quarter retains the character of that era. The Sierra Norte was declared a Natural Park in 1989, bringing a new identity as a centre for rural tourism and outdoor activities.

The Castillo de Constantina, built on a rocky prominence above the town, is largely ruined but the silhouette of its towers defines the skyline. The 16th-century church of La Encarnación is the main religious monument. The historic quarter below the castle is a pleasant maze of narrow streets with whitewashed houses and wrought-iron window grilles typical of the Sevillian sierra.

The Town Hall occupies a former convent. Constantina produces notable natural honey from the sierra flora, as well as a traditional anise-flavoured spirit (anís de Constantina). The surrounding sierra offers walking in the Parque Natural Sierra Norte de Sevilla, with routes through cork oak woodland and along the river Viar.

Constantina is 85 km north of Seville on the A-452. There is a bus from Seville. The old town is compact and walkable.

The area is popular for weekend rural tourism, so book ahead if coming on a Saturday night. The best seasons are spring (wildflowers, mild temperatures) and autumn.