Puerta de Córdoba and the Sunflower Interpretation Centre

The eastern gate of the city wall, of Roman origin, through which the Via Augusta left for Córdoba. It looks out over the Corbones plain, the sea of sunflower fields that surrounds Carmona, and inside it has an interpretation centre devoted to the sunflower. It is on Calle Dolores Quintanilla, at the end of the old town.

Its history

It was built in the time of Augustus, in the 1st century, when Carmona was living through a period of peace and prosperity that filled the city with large public buildings. It was not just a defensive gate: with its three openings it also had a propaganda role. The two small gates, on either side of the main one, were walled up in the 2nd century because of political instability and ended up hidden inside the neighbouring houses.

Under the Catholic Monarchs it lost its military function and became a kind of customs post for goods coming in from outside the wall. In the 16th century it received Renaissance alterations, in the early 17th century marble coats of arms and statues now lost, in 1688, under Charles II, its Baroque look, and at the end of the 18th century the last major work, by the Neoclassical architect from Carmona José Echamorro. On the intrados of the main arch is preserved an 18th-century canvas of the Virgen de Gracia, the patron saint.

The restoration of 2000 uncovered one of the pedestrian arches, and the town council bought land to give access to the upper part. In 2005 it opened as a visitor centre, which can only be entered by reservation.

How to visit

Only by prior reservation, by writing to [email protected] or through the tourism website: in autumn, Fridays at 17:00 and Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00. It costs €2, €1 for children, students and pensioners. Allow about 45 minutes. It works well with children: going up to the top of the gate and seeing the plain from above keeps them entertained.

If you can't make the slot, the view of the gate from outside and the walk along the path down to the plain are also worthwhile.

What to combine it with

Right next door is the Hotel Alcázar de la Reina, with its tavern El Tabanco. From the gate, head up through the old town to the Priory Church of Santa María and the City Museum, which has a video with the reconstruction of the Roman gate.