Bollullos de la Mitación

BOLLULLOS DE LA MITACIÓN

by Saskia Mier

Bollullos de la Mitación has one of the most interesting artistic features of the town hidden away in the Capilla de San Martín de Tours (chapel). It has about 10,300 inhabitants.

HISTORY

Bollullos de la Mitación is of Arabic origin and according to the work of Casiri, the name "Bollullos" means small tower, and the addition of "La Mitación" was added later. A mitación is a circumscription that does not have a unit of population but is composed of several villages with one of them as head of term. In this case, the mitación comprises of; Torrearcas, Aljuven, Torreblanca, Almanchar, Seismalos, Almonjón, Palmaraya, Almonasterejo, Rianzuela and Cuatrovitas. These villages existed until the end of the fifteenth century.

Although many remains have been found in the area pertaining to the Almohad period, there are also remains of several Roman agricultural villas in the form of Haciendas. The Dukes of Medina-Sidonia were the owners of Bollullos de la Mitación, given by the King a Guzmán El Bueno. In the same way it must be said that the Count-Duke of Olivares purchased the jurisdiction of the town. In 1594 it was part of the Kingdom of Seville in the Mitación de Bollullos del Axarafe.

THINGS TO SEE

Iglesia Parroquial San Martin de Tours
The church was built in the eighteenth century and within its interior contains four canvases made by Francisco de Zurbarán's workshop. They represent Santa Inés, Santa Catalina, Santa Lucía and San Blas, all of which have been on display in London and Paris in 1976 as well as in Madrid in 1988. Located Calle Santiago Apóstol.

Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Roncesvalles
The chapel was built during the nineteenth-century. It contains a representative polychrome sculpture of the Virgen de Roncesvalles made in the fourteenth century. Located on Calle Larga.

Biblioteca Cosmos
The municipal library provides extensive resources and organises monthly activities such as, children's storytelling, science workshops for elementary students, reading clubs and social gatherings. Located on Calle Larga.

Casa de la Cultura
The Casa de la Cultura is designed to promote the culture of the town and its area by organizing workshops, shows (theatre, music, cinema), courses, seminars, exhibitions and cultural trips to different localities of Andalusia, amongst many others. Located on Calle Pintor Guillermo Vargas Ruiz.

THINGS TO DO 

Aeródromo La Juliana
La Juliana is an small aerodrome near the village of Bollullos de la Mitacion with a 925m x 17m asphalt runway.  It is a popular place to practice circuits as it is located outside controlled airspace and has modest landing fee. It is located near the strict no fly zone over Doñana National Park which has been created to protect the park as much as possible.  Pilots can keep their private aircrafts here. Anybody wanting to try a unique experience can enjoy; skydiving, PPL courses (pilot training), repairs workshop and Air Jobs (advertising and photography). The facilities also include a bar, swimming pool and camping area. Airport code LEJU.

Located south west of Bollullos de la Mitación, off the Camino Monasterejo.
Tel: 955 99 04 47 or 607 50 04 42.

THINGS TO SEE OUTISDE THE VILLAGE

Ermita de Cuatrovitas
A chapel of Almohad origin showing a clear example of the Spanish-Muslim architecture. When the chapel was Christianised, the North-South orientation was changed to the South-North, the entrance door was blinded and the main altar was built on it. Located 5.5km from Bollullos de la Mitación, off the A-474.

Alminar Almohade
The Alminar is a square brick tower, constructed to imitate in a small way the Giralda in Seville, built next to the Ermita de Cuatrovitas. It was supposed to be situated between four Arab villages that disappeared after the Re-conquest, leaving only the Ermita de Cuatrovitas and Alminar Almohade. Both were declared Historical Artistic Monument in June 1931. Located 5.5km from Bollullos de la Mitación, off the A-474.

GASTRONOMY

Some typical dishes to try when visiting Bollullos de la Mitación are cocido de chícharos (pea stew), papas en amarillo (safron potatoes), tortilla de bacalao con perejil (cod omlette), tortilla campera (country omlette) and caldereta de cordero (lamb stew). Sweet treats inlcude roscos and dulces de Semana Santa, sweet pastries dipped in honey or rolled in sugar traditionally eaten at Easter. Bollullos de la Mitación is also well known for its mosto, a grape juice made from the first pressing.

FESTIVALS

Cabalgata Reyes Magos
Three Kings procession celebrated on the evening of 5 January.

Carnaval
Celebrated in February.

Día de Andalucía
Celebrated the 28 February.

Semana Santa
Holy Week.

Noche de Garbanzos
The evening of the chickpea stew celebrated the weekend before the 25 July

Festividad de Santiago Apóstol
Celebrated the 25 July.

Feria
Celebrated at the end of August.

Fiestas patronales de la Virgen de Cuatrovitas
Celebrated the third Sunday of September.

Romería de Cuatrovitas
Celebrated the fourth Sunday of October.

NEXT PLACES

The next villages to Bollullos de la Mitación are Aznalcázar, Benacazón, Almensilla and Bormujos.

 

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