AGUADULCE
by Saskia Mier
Aguadulce is home to some of the best quality Spanish purebred horses, raised in the "Hermanos Maldonado" Stud. They have won various prizes from institutions, like SICAB, that recognise their prestige. It has about 2000 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The origins are suggested to date to the Bronze Age, dated around the year 2000 AC. There is speculation about the possible relationship between these settlements and the subsequent culture of Tartessos.
Andalusia was soon under the tutelage of Rome, in the region called Betica, divided in turn into 4 districts, Hispalis, Gades, Corduba and Astigi, to which Aguadulce belonged. The Battle of Munda took place in the area, where Julius Caesar defeated the sons of Pompey and decided the decline of the Roman Republic. It is suggested the Battle took place between El Rubio and Lantejuela, which leaves Aguadulce as a front-row spectator in 47 AC, ending the Civil War.
From the third century, there was a decline in urban life within the Roman Empire. The area was reduced to a small group of houses, thus Aguadulce remained after the conquest of the Visigoths and even during the Moorish era. In 1240, King Fernando III El Santo conquered Estepa and Aguadulce formed part of the Encomienda de Santiago, following the donation made in 1267 by the Wise King, El Sabio, to that military order, and then as a component of the Marqueal State of Estepa.
Aguadulce experienced growth during the seventeenth century and even more so in the nineteenth century. In 1845, in the Madoz dictionary, Aguas-Dulces appear, suggesting the presence of water, not sweet but more importantly, drinkable, from the Arroyo de la Ribera.
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia de San Bartolomé
The church and tower dates to the eighteenth century, with many images of great value in its interior. Located on Calle San Bartolomé.
Casa Pepe Hara
The very first workers Casino in the town. Located on Calle San Bartolomé.
Huerta Las Almenas
One of the most significant buildings of Aguadulce, built with a Neoclassical style. Located on Avenida Andalucía.
Centro de Interpretación Las Huertas
The centre consists of an interactive room, where you can know a little of each of the Las Huertas (orchards )of the town and the work and evolution of them, explained by the local gardeners. There is also a projection room, where a presentation is shown about the utensils and tools used, a farm implements room, where you can see in situ some utensils illustrated above, and a temporary exhibition hall located on the top floor of the building, which is currently not in operation. Located on Calle Acebuche.
Jardín de Dolores
The garden has been named after a local elderly pensioner, Dolores Carrasco, who looks after the area as if it were her own personal garden. It has become a beautiful natural space to which the Town Hall, in gratitude for her work, named the garden after her. Located on Calle San Bartolomé.
Casa de Durán
A manor house that occupies a corner between two main streets, constituting a landmark within the town, built in 1927. Located on Calle Manuel de Falla.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE
Puente de Piedra
The bridge dates to 1596 and was built with five arches due to the heavy rainfall that caused many inhabitants to drown. Located on the N-340.
Ermita de San José Obrero
The chapel was inaugurated in 2005, where every year a pilgrimage travels here, returning at dusk. Located north of Aguadulce, on Calle Antonio Machado.
Molino La Molina
The windmill is located in the highest part of the town and already worked before the year 1750 and currently it is privately owned. As its name suggests, its main function was the milling of olives. It has been closed for years and has lost part of the roof, therefore well on the way to becoming a ruin. In addition, the plain that separates the hill from the mill will soon become an industrial estate. Located on Camino de la Molina.
GASTRONOMY
Dishes worth trying in Aguadulce include salmorejo, chacinas (cured sausages), cazuela de habas (broad bean stew), papas con "recaillo" (potatoes), cocidos de coles (cabbage stew), troncos de acelgas (chard), bacalao con pisto Manchego (cod with passata), espinacas con garbanzos (chickpeas with spinach) and manitas de cerdo (pig trotters). Sweet treats include bizcocho de aceite (olive oil cake) and orejones (sweet pastries).
HANDICRAFTS
The local handicraft still produced in Aguadulce is ironwork.
FESTIVALS
Cabalgata Reyes Magos
Three Kings procession celebrated on the evening of 5 January.
Carnaval
Celebrated in February.
Día de Andalucía
Celebrated the 28 Febuary.
Semana Santa
Holy Week.
Romeríade José Obrero
Celebrated the 1 May.
Fiesta de San Bartolomé
Celebrated the 24 August.
Festival Flamenco
Celebrated in August.
Dia de Inmaculada Concepción
Celebrated the 8 December.
NEXT PLACES
The next villages to Aguadulce are Osuna, Estepa and El Rubio.
Hover the cursor over Aguadulce to see bigger map and click to go to the maps page.