What to see

Puente Genil would not exist if it were not for the river which gives it its name, and which since antiquity has played a signicant role in the whole area. The LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM displays exhibits dating from the Lower Paleolithic era to the Middle Ages; some of its major items include Roman remains from FUENTE ÁLAMO, Hispano-Visigoth remains from the LOS CASTELLARES NECROPOLIS, and Arab remains from CASTILLO ANZUR, a 10th century Arab watchtower which dominates the town and its surrounding area.

The outstanding nd was however the FUENTE ÁLAMO ROMAN VILLA, dating from the 4th century. Magnicent mosaics from the villa are on display in the old SAN FRANCISCO DE LA VICTORIA CONVENT, the museum’s home, and in the villa itself. Outstanding examples of local architecture can be seen in the NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA PURIFICACIÓN and JESÚS NAZARENO parish churches, the SAN FRANCISCO DE LA ASUNCIÓN AND SAN FRANCISCO DE LA VICTORIA CONVENT churches and the PURÍSIMA CONCEPCIÓN SANCTUARY. In addition, the ALIANZA our mill and the AURORA power station are remarkable pieces of industrial architecture. However, the most symbolic construction must be the BRIDGE over the Genil river, which was rst built in 1561.

La Veracruz Chapel

This chapel dates back to 1613. It is small in stature because construction works were never concluded. It houses an 18th century Baroque altarpiece, work of local artist Pedro de Mena Gutiérrez. It consists of a hemispherical ceiling, supported by walls at the back part and by an adjoining arch. There are several Easter Week images on its altars, such as the Cristo de la Columna, Virgen de la Esperanza, Virgen de la Cruz, Virgen de la Piedad and one of this town’s oldest images, the Cristo de los Valientes, dating back to the 14th century. Every Monday, the faithful visit the chapel to pray before the effigy of San Nicolás de Bari.

C/ Aguilar,61, puente-genil

La Veracruz Chapel

Heritage Visits and Activities

Dulce Nombre Chapel

The construction of this chapel was concluded in 1589, thanks to Juan Alvarez Esquire, who donated an orchard to the Dulce Nombre de Jesús brotherhood. The church has a single nave, covered by barrel vault with lunettes that come from a Tuscan cornice, which could be considered to be a vault impost, and not supported by piles or columns. There is a presbytery at the end of the nave, covered by a wooden coffered ceiling, which resembles mosaics given the painting technique employed. There is a small altarpiece on the main altar.

C/ La Huerta,puente-genil

Dulce Nombre Chapel

Heritage Visits and Activities

‘Nuestra Señora del Carmen’ factory

A factory producing flour, olive oils and soap. It was built in 1904 by Antonio Baena Delgado. It has been completely renovated and was converted into a hotel.

Avenida de la Estación, Puente Genil

‘Nuestra Señora del Carmen’ factory

Jose Díaz Arroyo Ethnographic Collection

A collection of 800 objects and pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries. The idea for this collection was conceived from recovering objects, tools, customs and traditions associated with life in the country. However, due to restrictions of space, only a small selection is on display. The collection gives visitors the chance to travel back in time observing objects, tools or machinery that are no longer in use and which older visitors still hold in their memories. The collection is organised into four sections, displaying the types of crop traditional to this area: open land (irrigated or dryland), fertile land, olive groves and wineyards.

C/ Fernán Pérez, 9,puente-genil

Jose Díaz Arroyo Ethnographic Collection

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Monumental Bridge

This is Puente Genil’s most significant monument, since it is linked to the town’s foundation. It is our most emblematic monument because it symbolises the union of two river banks in 1834, giving rise to the Puente Genil we know today. It was first constructed in 1561 and designed by the Cordoban architect Hernán Ruiz II. The bridge’s current construct is thanks to the renovation works carried out by the French engineer Leopoldo Lemoniez Renault in 1874.

puente-genil

Monumental Bridge

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Parroquia de Jesús Nazareno (Church of Jesus of Nazareth)

Parroquia Jesús de Nazareno, early Hermitage named after St Christopher was located on a small hill outside of the town’s walls, and is today located within the town itself. Its origin dates back to the second half of the 16th century and, in addition to an image of St Christopher, it also contains the image of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth, Patron Saint of the Villa, an image that dates back to 1622. The early building has undergone various transformations over the centuries, the most notable being those carried out in 1824 by brother José Atanasio de Rivas y Gálvez and in the last quarter of the 19th century, around 1880, in which the transept we see today was incorporated and the new altarpiece was added which was made from Carrara marble in Malaga by the sculptor, Casanova. The portico was added in 1900, giving the early Hermitage, now church, its final form. Inside the building, the altarpiece of the Virgen de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows) stands out from the second half of the 18th century. It was made by the aforementioned Pedro de Mena and is the only Rococo style altarpiece in Puente Genil, it has two […]

Plaza del calvario, puente genil

Parroquia de Jesús Nazareno (Church of Jesus of Nazareth)

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Fuente Álamo Roman Villa

Roman Villa from the 1st to 4th centuries AD The villa is remarkable due to its extremely interesting mosaics, some of which are the most important figurative and geometric mosaics in Spain. It is believed that this villa’s first settlement corresponds to the 1st century AD, remaining until the start of the Moorish domination. There is proof however that it was most significant during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The unique figurative mosaics are impressive and are associated with important, large wall structures.

CV-297, 45A,puente-genil

Fuente Álamo Roman Villa

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Municipal Archaeology Museum

It was created in 1982 and is found inside the La Victoria convent. It displays archaeological materials taken from sites in and around Puente Genil, such as Los Castellares, Anzur Castle, Fuente Alamo, etc. The museum has two sections: Archaeology and Ethnography. Archaeology section Room I. Pre-history and Proto-history This room displays a collection of materials from the Pre-historic era, from the Middle Palaeolithic to Final Bronze Ages. The first collections are carved stone tools (quartzite and flint). The most outstanding are racloirs, knives and hand axes, which appeared on the river terraces of the Genil. The sample of materials is varied and unique (ceramic, polished stone, bone and metal) from Fuente del Lobo, elements that were important during the Bell Beaker culture. A 6th century BC Corinthium pot, brooches and ceramic fragments are the most impressive exhibits among the objects from the Tartessian world and their relationship with western Phoenician and Greek colonists. Iberian culture has bequeathed several pieces such as zoomorphic sculptures (bull, lioness, horse) in limestone and a series of materials; the most noteworthy being the wheel-thrown pot decorated with stripes and swirls. Room II. Ancient and Medieval ages Exhibits from the Roman world are mainly on […]

C/ Contralmirante Delgado Parejo, 2,puente-genil

Municipal Archaeology Museum

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La Concepción sanctuary

The small chapel that was dedicated to San Antón in the 16th century used to be on the same site of the Inmaculada Concepción sanctuary. Due to the plague that swept across Andalusia in 1650, the town, then Pontón de Don Gonzalo, voted for the Immaculate Concepción to be their Patron. However, the church was inadequate given the Patron’s rank. During the second half of the 18th century, the decision was made to build a church that was more appropriate for the Patron. Several houses on the calle Aguilar were bought for the extension. The church’s portal is the most impressive in Puente Genil, with its frontal platform and staircase closed off by a partition, double columns, broken pediment, etc. All of these elements are created with stone from Sierra Gorda and packed into a large niche. Inside the church, the gypsum-sculpted, polychromed main altar is impressive. It is in imitation of coloured marble and is the work of Pedro de Mena Gutiérrez, from Lucena; the popular-style baroque plasterwork can be found throughout the church around large Corinthian pilasters. The elliptical dome is remarkable. It has plasterwork reproducing Marian motifs. The 18th century chapel houses the image of the Patron, the Immaculate Conception, […]

C/ Madre de Dios, 2,puente-genil

La Concepción sanctuary

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Santiago parish church

The Santiago parish church was built in around 1600 for the area Miragenil, which was starting to form on the riverbank, belonging to the march of Estepa. The church therefore belongs to the 17th century, but the interior décor was added in the 18th century. However, the existing baroque altarpieces are from the former Victoria church from Estepa since the original ones were damaged during the Civil War. The elegant baroque belfry and the large ceramic tile representing Santiago are remarkable. This tile work was created by Sevillian potters and replaced the former large-scale oil painting that was found in the same place. The most important ancient tradition in this vast neighbourhood is the procession held on the Sunday following the Corpus Christi.

PLAZA SANTIAGO, 21,puente-genil

Santiago parish church

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La Purificación parish chapel

This is Puente Genil’s oldest church and was its only parish church until the second half of the 20th century. Its original location would have been due to the first repopulation that occurred in the second half of the 13th century. However, there are no remains from this era, given that it bordered with Granada’s Nasrid kingdom and this land was exposed to the Moors’ continual razzias. It is thought that the current construction must date back to the beginning of the 16th century, which is when inhabitants started to settle definitively in Pontón de Don Gonzalo. The area was named after its founder Gonzalo Yañez Dovinal. The oldest baptism registry book dates back to these early years. In addition to the three naves and some lost altarpieces of the ancient style, there is only a very modified 16th century altarpiece, which holds several painted panels and that today houses an image of the Virgen del Rosario. The altarpiece that houses the Virgen de las Angustias is the one that holds onto its ancient roots, dating back to 1640. It is baroque in style and is not polychromed, except for some small cherubs that support the Solomonic columns. The whole church ensemble was renovated […]

C/ Don Gonzalo, 18,puente-genil

La Purificación parish chapel

Heritage Visits and Activities

‘La Alianza’ flour and electricity factory

One of Puente Genil’s most interesting industrial buildings is next to the river Genil and the avenue. This building is one of the most emblematic in the town given that it started as a flour factory and some years later went on to generate electricity, on 11 August 1889. It was built in 1878 as a project commissioned to the French engineer, Leopoldo Lemoniez, by the shareholders, once the bridge was complete. La Alianza is a building with a square floor plan. It has four floors and an attic, but only two floors are visible from the avenue. The building has French influence given the constructor’s origin, only noticeable in some elements such as the decoration of the attic’s window. The building was built with stock brick from local ceramicists and is exposed. There are numerous windows, framed by white stone from the Sierra Gorda quarries. The whole building only has one central pewter balcony likely to have come from Seville. There are decorative ceramic elements between each of the windows, making the building appear less austere. There are four stone pinnacles at the ends of the gabled-roof, also created with stone from the Sierra Gorda quarries. The building has […]

plaza nacional, Puente Genil

‘La Alianza’ flour and electricity factory

Heritage Visits and Activities

Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish church

This parish church was built as a chapel for the Industrias de Nuestra Señora del Carmen in 1917 to cover the spiritual needs of the Estación neighbourhood. It became a parish church in 1954. The church has one single, Neo-Gothic nave, with beautiful, medium-sized jasper on the façade and the bottom part of the wall. The baroque altarpiece houses the image of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the incumbent image of the church. It came from the Caridad chapel that was once in front of the Town Hall. The beautiful, artistic image that represents the Resurrection of Jesus is truly outstanding. It is a Granadan piece from 1630, by Alonso de Mena y Escalante, which came from the former la Veracruz chapel. It was moved to the del Carmen parish church when the current brotherhood, which parades the image of the Resurrection through the streets, was founded.

Av. de la Estación, 62,puente-genil

Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish church

Heritage Visits and Activities

La Asunción former convent

The convent’s construction started in 1649 in a place known as the Cruz de Berral, a street that linked the calle Luna with calle Aguilar. Francisco Gil de Melgar, a local man from Puente Genil, a canon of Seville’s cathedral church and very respected man during his times left money in his will to construct the convent. The church was constructed between 1649 and 1692; this last date appears on a console on the side portal. The interior was decorated from this date: the altarpiece and sides were created before 1738 by the altarpiece sculptor, Felix Pérez de Mena, from Aguilar de la Frontera. The San Antonio altarpiece was created in 1748 by a sculptor from Lucena, Pedro de Mena Gutiérrez. It is a baroque church with a Latin cross floor plan: on its sides it has niches with small, yet interesting baroque altarpieces, which house the following images San Francisco de Asís, San Antonio, Santa Bárbara, the Virgen del Pilar, San Marcos and Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, the church’s incumbent image. This building’s inside walls were completely decorated with decorative paintings. Now, only the ones on the dome and the four Evangelists medallions remain. There is a collection […]

C/ Aguilar,1, puente-genil

La Asunción former convent

Heritage Visits and Activities

Señor del Río chapel

The origin of this chapel is due to the 1780 flood. Some children were playing on the riverbank and saw a plank of wood being swept along the river. A swallow flew and rested on the plank. They went to save it and saw that the part covered by waters had the face of the Lord carved on into it. A neighbour saw the children carrying the plank out of the river, who considered it to be something of a miracle. He built a post on the spot where it was found so that the public could worship it. Years later, using the donations made, the current small chapel was built. The Chapel has a small Neoclassical altarpiece, created in 1807. Given that it is such a small space, no mass has ever been held there, except in very exceptional circumstances.

CALLE FERIA, puente-genil

Señor del Río chapel

Heritage Visits and Activities

La Victoria former convent

Since the end of the 16th century, there were wishes for Puente Genil to found a San Francisco de Paula convent. However, it was not until the second half of the 17th century that the lady of the town, the Marchioness of Priego, Juana Enríquez de Ribera, supported this decision. The convent and church’s construction works lasted for the whole of the second half of the 17th century, and the doorway was completed in 1707. The cloister was completed in 1725. The inside of the Church was decorated with mainly carved and gilded wood altarpieces. The most impressive being the main altarpiece, created by Juan Cazorla, sculptor from Lucena, in 1736. Another recently discovered altarpiece is also remarkable. It represents the “Martyr of Judas Thaddaeus”. The fresco is painted by the local 18th century artist, José Antonio Ruiz Rey. The convent was first disentailed in 1822 and all of its assets were sold. The community was reintroduced the following year but with fewer friars and that is how it remained until all were expelled. The convent’s building was used as a home, sometimes a school and sometimes barracks. When it reached a state of disrepair it was bought by the Casa-Padilla family, […]

CONTRALMIRANTE DELGADO PAREJO,puente-genil

La Victoria former convent

Heritage Visits and Activities

Anzur castle is a modest castle located on one of the hillocks close to Puente Genil. Only the watchtower is preserved – a large tower with small view points, whose silhouette can be seen from several points throughout the region, given that its is positioned on one of Puente Genil’s highest points. It is of Moorish origin, built during the 10th century, to serve as a watchtower. Many archaeological ruins, such as walls, ceramic pots, etc. have been found in its surrounds, given that many cultures settled at its feet: Iberians, Romans and Moors. Anzur castle is very much linked to Puente Genil, so much so, it features the coat of arms that was created following the union between Pontón de Don Gonzalo (Córdoba) and the Barrio de Miragenil (Seville).

castillo anzur, Puente Genil

Anzur castle

Heritage Visits and Activities

Casino Liceo Mercantil

This building was constructed in 1897, commissioned by Antonio López, known as Palomo, to create a new café. The master builder, Rodrigo García, was in charge of the construction. He is the author of many buildings in Puente Genil. The façade consists of three floors. A large balcony runs across the whole of the first floor with large windows reminiscent of Venetian palace façades of the Italian Renaissance style.

Plaza Nacional, 6,puente-genil

Casino Liceo Mercantil

Heritage Visits and Activities

Dukes of Medinaceli palace-house

Baroque palace. The main portal has two coats of arms. This building has had many names over the years, but it is most commonly known as the Casa de la Mayordomía Ducal, having been the home of the administrator of the Duke of Medinaceli in the town, Puente de Don Gonzalo. During recent decades it has been known by the Vergara family name, as that family now own it. The Palace-house was built in the last third of the 18th century, although works were still being carried out on it at the start of the 19th century. It has a wide stone portal -the best in the town. The building has three floors; the central balcony is impressive, as are the large enclosed outward-jutting balconies found at either side. Two identical coats of arms decorate the façade; decorative elements are elaborated in stone, coming from the nearby quarries of Sierra Gorda. They are possibly the work of local stone masons the Gallardo brothers, who were active during this time and were documented as being involved in the construction of the La Concepción Sanctuary. The house maintains a beautiful patio with columns, staircase and several lounge areas boasting furniture of that era. It has […]

C/ Don Gonzalo,26, puente genil

Dukes of Medinaceli palace-house

Heritage Visits and Activities

Casa de Leopoldo Lemoniez

This house is known as the Lemoniez’s house and is found in the calle San Sebastián, in front of the calle Contralmirante Delgado Parejo. It was built by the French engineer in around 1888 for his own residence on land that the town council handed him. This building’s most spectacular feature is its façade, which uses two different coloured bricks creating a chessboard effect. The stone lintels were carved with fruits and vegetables and the beautiful ironwork is from a Sevillian foundry.

CALLE SAN SEBASTIAN, puente-genil

Casa de Leopoldo Lemoniez

Heritage Visits and Activities

“The Aurora” Building

La Aurora was built in 1897 by the local architect Rodrigo García as the LA AURORA electricity factory headquarters. The top of this stock-brick building is crowned by a statue of the Rodrigo García with his attributes, which is mistaken for an angel holding a light. The building comprises three Mudejar-style floors; the cast-iron columns and horseshoe arches belong to the same style and the ensemble is topped with battlements. The following inscription appears “Puente Genil electricity company”. It is interesting that ‘Puente Genil’ is written with a “J” and each of the bronze letters weigh 5 kilos. The building has a tall chimney that can be seen from the calle Capitán de Corbeta Reina Carvajal and is one of the three most notable buildings in the Barrio de la Isla’s centre. The others are the Theatre-Circus and the Dulce Nombre chapel. This electricity factory is important to Puente Genil as it was the first Andalusian town and the second in Spain, after Barcelona, to have electricity. The building is an important reference in the town’s industrial heritage.

C/ Jesús, 8,puente-genil

“The Aurora” Building

Heritage Visits and Activities