Sanlúcar la Mayor is a town of about 14,000 people in the Aljarafe, the plateau of olive groves and villages west of Seville. Its old centre stands on a hill above the valley of the Guadiamar, and its history goes back to Roman and Moorish times.
Why visit Sanlúcar la Mayor
For an authentic Andalusian town close to Seville, with Moorish walls and Mudéjar churches, and a surprising sight: the solar power towers that shine above the plain below the town.
Top things to do in Sanlúcar la Mayor
The church of San Pedro
Built inside the old Almohad walled precinct, it reuses parts of earlier buildings and keeps the atmosphere of the medieval town.
The church of Santa María
A Mudéjar church that houses some of the town’s finest religious art and silverwork.
The old walls
Sections of the Almohad walls still mark the edge of the historic quarter, with views over the Guadiamar valley.
The solar towers
In the plain below the town stand the towers of a solar thermal power plant, including PS10, which in 2007 became the first commercial solar tower plant in the world. They glow when the mirrors focus the sunlight.
Day trips from Sanlúcar la Mayor
Seville is about 20 minutes away. The Doñana natural area and the village of El Rocío are within an hour, and the Roman ruins of Itálica are close by.
Best time to visit Sanlúcar la Mayor
Spring and autumn are ideal. Summer is very hot, as in all the Seville area.
Getting to and around Sanlúcar la Mayor
Seville airport is about 30 km away. Trains and buses connect the town with Seville. A car is useful for Doñana and the villages of the Aljarafe.
What to eat in Sanlúcar la Mayor
Aljarafe olives and olive oil, salmorejo, espinacas con garbanzos, and local wines and sweets.
Sanlúcar la Mayor FAQ
Is Sanlúcar la Mayor the same as Sanlúcar de Barrameda?
No. Sanlúcar la Mayor is near Seville; Sanlúcar de Barrameda is a coastal town in Cádiz province, famous for manzanilla.
Can you visit the solar towers?
They are working power plants; you can see them from the roads and viewpoints around the town.
