Page 30 - Spanish Insight - October 2019

Carmona, Alcázar de la Reina

A Night Away:

By Anne Fleming make our way to the bar, where we We arrive back in time to have a
sit and enjoy a drink.
“Guinness” in the Irish Bar attached
Later in the day, as the heat abates, to the hotel. Dark wood and stained
Many years ago, we stayed a night we walk from the hotel through windows give an air of authenticity.
in Carmona, but as we arrived the old town – which has been Our waitress is delighted that
very late, and continued travelling inhabited for over 5000 years. we are Irish but can only provide
the next day, we had little time to We reach the Puerta de Sevilla, us with bottled Guinness which
explore. where the remains of the walls disappoints my husband. In the
This time we easily find our hotel, are from the time Carmona was evening, we chose to eat tapas and
Alcázar de la Reina, which is in a Carthaginian colony of great drink wine on the outside terrace as
an ancient Mudejar building in the importance. This little town has the sun goes down. Local couples
old town with views across the been described as the jewel in the and groups come in to chat and
countryside, set on a ridge only 30 crown of the Province of Seville. have tapas while we are there.
kilometres from Sevilla. King Philip IV granted Carmona the Next morning, we have breakfast in
We find parking nearby and make status of a city in 1630 and Miguel the bright dining room downstairs,
our way to reception where we de Cervantes, author of “Don and again, service is excellent, with
are received warmly by a young Quixote” lived here while preparing tables being cleared and plates The town of Carmona is simple and
receptionist. We are early, but she provisions for the Spanish Armada. being filled quietly as we eat. draws only tourists who like to go
quickly arranges a room for us and We wander through the cobbled We have enjoyed our stay at this off the beaten track. We are happy
checks us in. Our room and ensuite streets, admiring the bell tower and hotel. Every member of staff is we chose this hotel and town rather
are spacious and bright, decorated walk outside the Cordoba Gate to polite, smiling, well trained and than Seville only half an hour away.
in warm colours. We unpack and take photos. respond quickly to anything we ask.

30 Spanish Insight October 2019