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Let's Discover Lebrija in Andalucia, southern Spain |
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Lebrija (36°53'N
-06°05'W), in the province of Sevilla (Seville), is an ancient
city close
to the south east bank of the Rio Guadalquivir, between Cadiz
and Seville. On the opposite bank lies Coto Doñana National
Park.
Lebrija is easily accessible
via the A-471 which leads off the E-5 (AP-4) at Las Cabezas de San
Juan. Lebrija also has its own railway station on the
Seville to Cadiz line.
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The huge Cerro de
Castillo (castle hill) is a man made mound first constructed by
the Neolithic people of the area..
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Las Marismas wetlands dominate the area. The Guadalquivir Wetlands are a
wide, shallow estuary that the Romans called Lake Ligustino.
From early times the rich, fertile lands of the marshes have
been farmed. Tools and grain silos have been unearthed going
back to Neolithic times Sheep herding, hunting and fishing
have always been very important activities here. The main productive activity is
still agriculture, with beet, cotton, wheat and various fruits its main products. Winemaking activities are also prominent with Manzanilla and other finos too.
The town is also known for its pottery and earthenware heritage, including búcaros. The farmers of this area were the first to cultivate
maize when it arrived from the Americas.
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During the Bronze Age, water levels dropped dramatically,
reducing the depth of the mashes and creating the wetland
habitats we see today. |
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The Phoenicians introduced olive and vine cultivation to the
area. They were also skilled at metal work as well as salting
and preserving fish.
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The Romans called
the town Nabrissa or Nebrissa and the Moors called it Nebrishah.
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From the 6th century C.E. costal navigation became impossible
due the the steadily silting up of the lake and harbour. Lake Ligustino was
by now entirely marsh, blocking off the open sea except for
times of flooding. Lebrija could no longer function as a port.
In 711 C.E. the Moors took control and held in until 1249.
They then won it back for a brief time until 1264. They developed
the town's defenses in order to guard the entrance to the Rio Guadalquivir.
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Opening of trade
routs to the New World in the 18th century enabled Lebrija to benefit
hugely from the export of its olive oil.
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The area has some very interesting architecture and monuments.
The 13th century Nuestra Senora de la Oliva church dates from
the reign of Alfonso X el Sabio although not all you see now
is authentic as is was extended in the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries.
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The ruined Moorish castle stands
on Cerro de
Castillo.
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The neoclassic
town hall is next to a monument to Elio Antonio de Lebrija, also known
variously as Antonio
de Nebrija and Antonius Nebrissensis,
creator of the first Castilian grammar book in 1492 and one of the most important Renaissance leaders in Spain.
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Don't miss the
16th century Convento de la Purisima Concepcíon which has a
magnificent 18th century altarpiece.
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The Casa de
Cultura is housed within the 18th century Cilla de Cabildo.
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Also visit the San
Andrés wheat silo, San Francisco Convent, and the old Misericordia
Hospital. There are beautiful views from the Mirador de la
Pena.
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The Cruces de Mayo (Holy Crosses of May) is the most well-known and popular festivity in Lebrija. It is held during the first two weekends of May every year. It is a community activity where each neighborhood raises a cross, either using a permanent buttercross site or building them from scratch using flowers, forged iron or wood. These places around the town are then used for dancing and singing, particularly a local form of Sevillanas, known as Sevillanas corraleras.
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If you visit
the area in July, you may be lucky enough to catch the
Caracolá, one of the major flamenco festivals in Spain.
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The entrance to
the 962 acre La Reserva Natural Complejo Endorreico Lebrija-Las Cabezas
(the Complejo Endorreico Natural Reserve) lies halfway along the
road to Las Cabezas de San Juan. The Nature Reserve is located at the southern tip of the province of Seville, between 36 º 53 'north latitude and 5 º 53' west, in the municipalities of Lebrija and Las Cabezas de San Juan. The reserve consists of six lakes, La
Galiana, La Cigerrera, El Pilón, El Taraje, and el Charroao. These lakes receive their water mainly from
rain, retained due to the low permeability soil. The remains of a Roman house, in the lagoon of Taraje. attest to early agricultural activity.
Holm oak (Quercus rotundifolia), Olive trees (Olea europea var.
Silvestris) and Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) as well as Quercus
x marianica are scattered around the lakes and La Cigerrera
also has riparian vegetation along its banks (mulberry, reeds and cattails).
Here it is easy to see endangered species like the crested coot
and White-headed duck, as well as a multitude of other ducks,
herons and raptors.
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The rock exposed in the Natural Reserve belong to the Triassic.
This formation consists of variegated marl, red and white plaster,
with deposits of salt and red and brown sandstone. These materials are of great plasticity and mobility, which has led to an undulating relief with an impermeable
substrate.
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Walking in
wetlands around Lebrija -
There
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Great Books and Maps ! |
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Rivers of
Andalusia:
Guadalquivir,
Rio Tinto, Genil, Andarax, Majaceite, Barbate,
Odiel, Guadalhorce, Guadalete, Almanzora, and
Guadiamar
by
Books Llc |
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Wild Spain: A Traveller's Guide
by
Frederic Grunfeld and Simon Rigge |
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Flowers of South-west Europe: A Field Guide
by
Oleg Polunin and B.E. Smythies |
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Birds of Iberia
by
Clive Finlayson and David Tomlinson |
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Wild Spain:
The Animals, Plants and Landscapes
by
Teresa Farino |
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The Birds of the Western Palearctic
by
David Snow and Christopher Perrins |
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Birds of the Western Palearctic:
A Photographic Guide
by
Hadoram Shirihai and Lars Svensson |
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The Advanced Bird Guide:
ID of Every Plumage of Every Western Palearctic Species
by
Nils Van Duivendijk |
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Handbook of the Birds of Europe, Middle East & North Africa, The Birds of the Western Palearctic:
A Nine Volume Set by the late
Stanley Cramp |
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DVD-rom: Birds of Western Palearctic (PC/Mac)
Mac OS X, Windows 2000 / XP / Vista |
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Where to Watch Birds in Northern and Eastern Spain
by
Ernest Garcia and Michael Rebane |
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Where to Watch Birds in Southern and Western Spain:
Andalucia, Extremadura and Gibraltar
by
Ernest Garcia and Andrew Paterson |
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Birdwatching on Spain's Southern Coast:
Costa Del Sol, Costa De La Luz, Almeria, Donana
and Some Inland Sites
by
John R. Butler |
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A Birdwatching Guide to Southern Spain
by
Malcolm Palmer and John Busby |
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Wildlife Travel Map of Spain |
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The Golden Eagle
by
Jeff Watson and Keith Brockie |
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Golden Eagle:
Sovereign of the Skies
by
Charles Preston and Gary
Leppart |
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The Golden Eagle (Shire natural history)
by Jeff Watson and John Love |
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The Sparrowhawk
(Shire Natural History)
by
Ian Newton |
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Other Shire Natural History guides |
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Barn Owls:
Predator-Prey Relationships
and Conservation
by
Iain R. Taylor |
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Collins Birds of
Prey
by
Benny Gensbol and Walter
Thiede |
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The Pocket Guide
to the Birds of Prey of Britain and Europe
by
Peter Hayman and Rob Hume |
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Understanding
the Bird of Prey
by
Nick Fox |
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Other Useful Links |
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