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| The church of Santiago Ecija |
Avoid visiting Ecija in the middle of summer. It once registered an alarming 52 degrees centigrade on the thermometer and is known as La Sartén de Andalucia (the Frying-Pan of Andalucia) which is no exaggeration.. Located midway between Seville and Córdoba in a valley of low hills, Ecija is home to several magnificent baroque churches, the towers of each glisten with brilliantly coloured tiles which can be spied from far in the distance. There are also some splendid houses here which date back to the 18th century when the local nobility bought homes in the town. Many of the mansions are particularly distinctive for their flamboyant architecture displaying interesting shapes and patterns.
Unfortunately, a major earthquake in 1757 did considerable damage to many of the buildings, however the churches were restored - at a considerable cost.
Things to see include the Roman mosaic on the ayuntamiento while two of the most spectacular towers are on the Santa Maria church and the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. The tourist office also just happens to be housed in a former palace with a fabulous portal in contrasting tints of marble, while the Museo Histórico Municipal has a fine collection of artifacts in a serene setting of palms and patios. Another highlight is the impressive Palacio de Peñaflor on Calle Castellar with a curved facade decorated with frescos and an elaborate baroque portal. Nearby is the San Gil Gothic-Mudéjar church which is also worth a camera shot or two.
 Places to stay include the Pension Santa Cruz, Calle Romero Gordillo 8 (95 483 0222 and Hotel Sol Pirula, Calle Miguel de Cervantes 50 (95 483 0300) while restaurants and bars are plentiful, particularly around the Plaza Mayor.
There are daily buses to and from Seville and Córdoba.
From Écija is a vía verde (greenway) that runs northeast to Valchillón just south of Cordoba and southwest to Marchena. The Vía Verde of the Countryside can be used by walkers, cyclists or horse riders.
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