Sierra Norte

Sierra Norte de Sevilla lies within the Sierra Morena range, north of Córdoba and Sevilla in Andalucía, Spain.

The area is home to a number of small and picturesque villages, and to dramatic landscapes that starkly contrast with the Guadalquivir Valley further south. The mountains are not particularly high, and the rivers mostly circulate in a north-south direction towards the Guadalquivir.

There are a few villages scattered within the Park. Most are rather small and picturesque. Constantina and Cazalla are the two largest villages, and they sport a large range of interesting sights. The other villages are good starting points to discover the countryside that surrounds them.

The most important villages are:

• Alanís
• Almadén de la Plata
• Cazalla de la Sierra
• Constantina
• Guadalcanal
• Las Navas de la Concepción
• El Pedroso
• La Puebla de los Infantes
• El Real de la Jara
• San Nicolás del Puerto

Cerro del hierro

The park is mostly covered in dehesas, a form of pasture dotted with oak trees, and this translates into an economy where farming and wood are major players. This characteristic landscape is complemented by olive groves, and along the rivers, riverside forests.

The natural environment is home to many large mammals, such as deer (they can often be seen grazing around by visitors) and boars. In the riverside forests, otters can be seen.

Average rainfall is higher than in places further east and north, as the Sierra Morena blocks incoming precipitation from the Atlantic. The temperatures are slightly lower than in the Guadalquivir Valley, and they show a market stationarity.

Apart from farming and forestry, hunting and fishing are important sources of income, as they do bring tourists into the Park. The olive groves have resulted in a thriving high quality olive oil business, which is complimented by other farm activities, such as honey production, and mushroom and herb gathering.

The park is poorly served by public transport. This makes the use of a private car a near must. The roads are narrow and winding, and driving might be difficult in adverse weather conditions.

Try the delicious Iberian pork delicacies (ham, cured loin, chorizo sausages).

The traditional aguardiente made from cherries is a good antidote against cold winter nights!

There are a number of 'casas de turismo rural' (restored country cottages) are dotted throughout the region. These traditional self-catering dwellings are often restored to high quality standards, and provide very convenient and affordable accommodation for families and large groups of people.

• Hacienda Los Gorriones has two nice cortijos (cottages) with a swimming pool and barbeque. The cottages are near Las Navas de la Concepción.
• San Blas Hotel, Constantina, a town in the heart of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Nature Park.
• Cartuja de Cazalla, an upmarket hotel in a monumental guesthouse.