El Madroño brings together striking landscapes, trails with different focuses, and places of cultural interest. The Río Tinto’s red, highly acidic, iron-rich waters shape the protected landscape area. There are also trails through dehesa landscapes, eucalyptus groves and rockrose scrub, as well as churches and local specialities. Depending on whether you are most interested in nature, trail routes or local history, you can choose from a range of different highlights.
Landscape along the Río Tinto
A 225-hectare area of the protected Río Tinto landscape lies within the municipality of El Madroño. The waters are home to microorganisms adapted to extreme habitats. The Ruta de los Mineros offers views of El Madroño and the mining area around Nerva. The route’s access to the Río Tinto includes a 1.5-kilometre descent through a landscape of yellow-stained rocks. In this way, the route combines viewpoints with a specific stretch of trail leading down to the river.
Access to the protected landscape area is free. From El Madroño, the SE-9200 road heads towards Berrocal; after about 700 metres, a track branches off and joins the old Palomares path. Conditions on the track can vary, so check them before setting out. This makes it possible to consider the approach and the descent on the Ruta de los Mineros as two distinct aspects of a visit to the natural area.
Trails and their different focuses
The Sendero de las Cuatro Aldeas runs mostly through dehesa landscapes, with sections through eucalyptus groves and low scrubland with abundant rockrose. It connects Juan Gallego, Villargordo, El Álamo and Juan Antón. Landscape and connections between settlements go hand in hand here: the trail description covers both the changing vegetation and the four hamlets.
The Camino de los Camellos has a different character: it is a former drovers’ road connecting El Castillo de las Guardas, Aznalcóllar and El Madroño. The routes therefore represent different themes—the Ruta de los Mineros for its descent and views, the Sendero de las Cuatro Aldeas for its vegetation and hamlets, and the Camino de los Camellos for its historic function as a route.
A remarkable tree
The Encina de los Perros is listed among Andalusia’s notable trees. It is over 16 metres tall, with a canopy up to 28.5 metres in diameter that provides 600 square metres of shade. Access to the tree is restricted, but it can be viewed from the road. Check the conditions before visiting. Its dimensions make the Encina a distinct natural attraction alongside the landscapes and trails.
Chapels, a church and rocky sites
The Church of San Blas is located on Plaza de la Constitución in the centre of El Madroño and has a single nave. The two chapels also have distinct features: the Chapel of Cruz de Arriba has a single nave and is decorated with modern blue-and-white tiles. The Chapel of Cruz de Abajo dates from the mid-20th century.
At Cerro del Riscal, there are hollows in the rock and small caves that were probably used as shelters and places of refuge in prehistoric times. Their possible former use remains an interpretation; the rock formations themselves offer another point of interest for anyone interested not only in buildings but also in traces of the past in the landscape.
Local specialities
Specialities highlighted in El Madroño include Sopeao and Caldereta de Chivo. They add a culinary perspective to the area’s nature and cultural experiences. If you want to take trails and landscapes, as well as buildings and local cuisine, into account when choosing a place to stay, El Madroño offers a range of topics to explore according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: El Alamo, Villamanrique De La Condesa, Tomares, El Garrobo, Acalá Del Río, Utrera, Pilas, Aznalcázar.
For the main travel overview: Sevilla.
