Hotel Cortijo El Esparragal
Gerena
Space!! Available in abundance at this large authentic cortijo.
If you always wanted to stay at a huge and still active hacienda, this is the place to be.
The cortijo has been in service for centuries, and is still a working farm. The land of this cortijo covers 3000 (!) hectares, and to give you an idea of how large it is, the border of the land is 14 kilometres from the cortijo. The farm has 1000 dairy cows and 100 horses. And there are also 400 Retinto cows that are bred for meat production.
A large chunk of the 3000 hectares of land is used to grow olives, oranges and sunflowers.
900 hectares of the land are woodland, and very suitable for walks, or to go horse riding on one of the 10 horses that the hotel has available for its guests, either with or without a guide.
In 1992, part of this enormous cortijo was converted into a hotel, leaving the original character of the place in tact. The hotel part has 21 rooms, and all hotel areas were decorated in authentic style, making you feel as if you are on a film set.
There is a restaurant that serves local dishes, and which uses local produce from the cortijo, and has wines from the cortijo’s own wine cellar.
The gardens around the cortijo are breathtakingly beautiful, and very well-maintained, and this is also where you will find the large (everything is big here) swimming pool.
The hotel also organises a range of activities, such as horse riding, with a guide, or going on a ride in an open horse-drawn carriage, as well as walks, helping out during the harvesting, hunting, fishing, or mountain biking.
And all of this is possible on the cortijo’s own grounds, which also have a small lake, old Roman baths, and stables you can visit.
Children will love this place, even more so because it has a breakfast buffet for children, even during the high season.
All in all, a very special place, this Cortijo El Esparragal, a combination of a large working hacienda and an authentic Spanish hotel, which greatly appealed to us, especially because it allows its guests a first-hand experience of life on a hacienda. So you will even learn something, and it is great for kids.
Cons:
• Rooms are a bit basic, but their decoration style is authentic.
Pros:
• Wonderful, authentic cortijo, which is still in operation
• The combination of a working cortijo and a hotel is something special
• Rooms are very large
• Lots of space
• Informative and particularly enjoyable for families with children
Hotel Cortijo El Esparragal
surrounding area
Gerena
Gerena is less than 30 km to the north of Seville (a 30 minute drive).
Cortijo El Esparragal is out of town, and one of Andalucía’s largest farms, covering over 3000 hectares of land. Apart from the hotel, the hacienda also has over 100 horses in its stables, 10 of which can be ridden by guests.
The hotel also organises a range of activities, such as horse riding, with a guide, or rides in an open horse-drawn carriage, as well as walks, helping out during the harvesting, hunting, fishing, or mountain biking.
But you can, of course, also simply enjoy the peace and quiet and relax in the beautifully laid-out gardens around the swimming pool.
And the Cortijo El Esparragal is also a great base from which to visit Seville.
Family
The cortijo is extremely suitable for horse riding, walks and bike tours.
There are also a few amusement parks in the area, including Andalucía’s largest and most popular park, Isla Mágica, on the EXPO site in Seville. Roller coasters, rapids, and many more attractions and hair-raising rides.
The water park Guadalpark (also in Seville) is also a great place to find some refreshment during the hot summer months. Spectacular slides, a Jacuzzi pool, a black hole and different pools make up this park.
Between Gerena and Seville, on the N630, you will find the Mundo Park. This park has a zoo, botanical gardens and a fun fair.
And then there is the safari park, Reserva Natural Sevilla, in the village of El Castillo de las Guardas, which is about 30 minutes to the north of Gerena. You can get close to lions, elephants, giraffes and rhinos in your own car or a train. Part of the park can be explored on foot, such as the kangaroo garden.
Seville itself can be taken in from the top of an open-top double-decker bus. And you can even go on a river cruise on the Guadalquivir.
In the centre of Seville, the Parque María Luisa makes for a fun place to feed pigeons, rent a bike or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
Where museums are concerned, the coach museum is a particularly fun place to visit with the kids.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Seville (30km; 30min):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar.
You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.
The Roman settlement of Itálica (19km; 20min):
About 20 km south of Gerena (just above Seville), near the village of Santiponce, you will find the ruins of the Roman settlement of Itálica. Part of these ruins is open to the public, where you can see the foundations and floor mosaics, as well as an old theatre and the amphitheatre. This amphitheatre in particular is worth a visit, because part of its catacombs and stands, which once seated 25,000 people, have been very well preserved.
Carmona (60km; 50min):
A pleasant provincial town with a rich past that has given it a beautiful townscape and interesting monuments. Carmona is about 30 km to the east of Seville, and sits on top of a hill. The old centre is small, with a few stately townhouses, churches and convents. Try to avoid driving into the centre. You will be much better off parking your car near the Puerta de Sevilla and exploring the town’s winding brick-paved streets and attractive squares on foot. Sights include the town hall (Ayuntamiento), the 15th-century Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor church and the impressive ruins of the Alcazar del Rey Pedro that rise above the town. Just outside Carmona is the Necrópolis Romana, the remnants of a Roman burial site.
Arcos de la Frontera (112km; 1h30min):
Arcos is one of Andalucía’s finest little towns; it often serves as a base from which to explore the pueblos blancos (white villages); its entire medieval centre has been declared a Historic Monument. In Arcos you should just stroll around its cobblestone streets, past small whitewashed houses, its many squares and its patios. Arcos’ oldest building is the Castillo, a dilapidated castle that is strategically situated on top of the hill. From the town walls you have a great view of the Guadalete valley. Other sights include the churches Iglesia de Santa María de la Asunción, Iglesia de los Jesuitas and the Iglesia de San Pedro.
The town hall, the ayuntamiento on the Plaza de Cabildo, is also worth a visit because of its fine mudejar-style ceilings.
Jerez de la Frontera (120km; 1h25min):
Jerez is the sherry capital of the world. A tour of one of its bodegas (Sandeman, Pedro Domecq, Gonzalez Byass) is not only good fun, but you will also learn something. How to distinguish fino from amontillado or oloroso sherry, for example.
Jerez is also famous for its horse riding school, the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Escuestre. Apart from visiting a show here, visitors can also attend lessons and tour the stables.
Other sights include the inviting cafes on the Plaza Asunción and the old town hall from 1575, Casa de Cabildo Viejo. The San Mateo quarter is famous for its flamenco bars, and is also where you will find the official flamenco centre: Centro Andaluz de Flamenco.
And you can, of course, head for one of the other world famous cities for a day trip:
Córdoba (166km; 2h):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.