Lebrija
Traditionally the main town of Las Marismas, Lebrija is situated between rolling agricultural hills in the east and the flat marshlands to the west. The farmers of this area were the first to cultivate corn brought over from the Americas. The old centre of the city is typically Andalucían. Its steep, narrow streets wind around whitewashed houses wrought iron window bars. Now home to 24,000 people, the modern developments outside the city centre don't detract from the ambience and charm of the town centre.
The Turdetanians originally founded Lebrija and the remains of their civilisation that have been found in the area are now on display in the National Arcaeological Museum in Madrid. Lebrija became an important town during Roman times when the town was fortified. Today, Lebrija is a renowned flamenco centre and the Caracol, one of the major flamenco festivals in the region is held here each year in July. The town is also famous for its locally produced earthenware including pitchers, gazpacho bowls and water jugs. The shape of the pitchers produced here today are the same as they have been since Roman times. The parish church of Santa María de la Oliva is one of the finest in the province of Seville. It is located on the top of the hill in the old part of town and was originally a mosque that was reclaimed as a church by the Christians in 1249. Part of the church retains its original mosque elements and resembles a smaller version of the Mezquita in Córdoba. Near to the border with the province of Cádiz to the south, Lebrija is a service centre for the villages dotted around the agricultural areas surrounding the town with numerous shops, supermarkets and other amenities.
Lebrija is located 50km south of Seville and 27km north of Jerez de la Frontera, where there is an international airport. The rail line that runs between Cádiz and Seville passes through Lebrija and there is a train station just outside the town.

Los Palacios y Villafranca
This traditional town of 32,000 inhabitants is surrounded by agricultural land of wheat fields and olive trees. To the west of the town is a large expanse of marshy land, some of which is used for rice cultivation. Los Palacios itself is an attractive town with traditional Andalucían whitewashed houses with wrought iron balconies and window grills. Originally the town was two villages divided by a street in which a stone cross was erected as a kind of meeting place where disputes between the villages could be resolved. The church of Santa María la Blanca was once a mudejar style church whose tower can still be seen although most of the existing church dates from the 17th century. Los Palacios is one of the towns that takes part in the famous pilgrimage to the Rocío in Huelva on the other side of the Guadalquivir river. The pilgrimage takes several days to complete and culminates in loud and exuberant celebrations in the village of El Rocío 50km to the west. The route of the pilgrimage taken from Los Palacios is said to be the most attractive of the various pilgrimage routes, crossing as it does the wild marshes of the Marismas. Other festivities in the town include a livestock fair which is held in April and is of great social and economic importance throughout the province of Seville and also the "Fair of Little Sevilla" held in August in honour of the patron saint of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves.
Los Palacios is 25km south of Seville on the NIV road and is 2km from the A4 dual carriageway that runs south from Seville to Cádiz.

Las Cabezas de San Juan
In the south of the Seville province near the border with Cádiz, Las Cabezas is a town of 15,000 inhabitants, situated in an area of fertile farmland and marsh land. The rural area near to the town includes the Natural Reserve of the Complejo Endorreico de Lebrija, an important area ecologically, consisting of marshlands and lagoons near to the Guadalquivir river. Las Cabezas originated in Roman times and was later dominated by the Moors before the Christian reconquest. The symbol of the town is the beautiful church of San Juan Bautista built in the 18th century. The main fiesta in Las Cabezas takes place from the 14th to the 16th of September.
Las Cabezas is 40km south of Seville on the A4 motorway. The rail line from Cádiz to Seville passes several kilometres to the west of Las Cabezas and the local railway station is situated here.

El Cuervo de Sevilla
Situated right on the border of the province of Seville with the province of Cádiz to the south, El Cuervo is located in the heart of an area of fertile rolling hills near to the marshes of the Marismas. El Cuervo originally consisted of nothing but a roadside inn known as the Casa de Postas where travellers and local labourers would congregate. This 18th century tavern is now a property of cultural interest. The village grew up around the tavern at the beginning of the 20th century and is now stretched along the NIV road that runs through the middle of the village. A festival takes place in El Cuervo on the 19th of December to commemorate the village's establishment as an independent municipality. On the final weekend of May a lively and colourful pilgrimage takes place in honour of the patron saint of Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
El Cuervo is 20km north of Jerez de la Frontera and 50km south of Seville. The village is 10km by road from the A4 motorway that runs between Cádiz and Seville. There is a train station 4km from the village.

Gelves
On the outskirts of Seville, Gelves is situated just to the west of the Guadalquivir river. Surrounded by fertile agricultural land, Gelves' proximity to the capital means it is a popular place of residence for Sevillian city workers wishing to live outside the bustle of the city.
Gelves is a village of 5000 inhabitants situated on the dual carriageway that runs south from Seville to La Puebla del Río, a couple of kilometres outside of the capital. There is a marina just outside Gelves, near to the Guadalquivir.

South of Gelves is the town of Coria del Río with a population of 23,000 and adjacent to this is La Puebla del Río with a population of 10,000. Situated on the western banks of the Guadalquivir river, beyond these towns, the vast marshlands of the Guadalquivir estuary begin. La Puebla del Río is the more attractive of the two towns, which are surrounded by agricultural land and the rice fields of the nearby marshes. This fertile area has been cultivated since prehistoric times, there have been Neolithic finds in the area and for the Romans, La Puebla was an important trading centre. The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada dates from the 13th century. There is a horse-riding club in the town.
In both of these towns, the El Rocío pilgrimage is an important annual event and although many towns and villages across Huelva, Seville and Cádiz participate in the pilgrimage, the tradition in Coria del Río goes back many years. Another interesting festival held in Coria is that in honour of the patron saint of the Virgen de la Estrella in September. During these celebrations, the local women wear a traditional costume and a cooking contest is held.
These two towns are 10km south of Seville. The motorway from Seville comes to an end at La Puebla del Río.

A small road runs south through the Guadalquivir marshlands from La Puebla del Río and comes to an end at the village of Villafranca del Guadalquivir. This relatively new village was populated in the early 20th century when people began to cultivate rice in the marshlands. Many of the inhabitants who moved to the village to grow rice originally came from Valencia and this gives the village of 6000 people a unique character. There is a restaurant in the village that serves unusual cuisine that is a mixture of Andalucían and Valencian cooking. The surrounding wetlands attract a large variey of bird species and many of these are served in this restaurant. The village is situated in the middle of a large expanse of flat marshy land reminiscent of the Netherlands.
Villafranca is 20km south of La Puebla del Río.

Aznalcázar
This pretty village of 3400 inhabitants is situated in lovely countryside of rolling hills planted with olive trees. Near to the vast and ecologically important Cota Doñana Natural Park, Aznalcázar dates back to Roman times and was later governed by the Moors who called the village Hizn-Al-Kazar. The Mudejar style parish church of San Pablo was built in the 14th century and has an interesting interior. It was built on the site of a mosque, the tower of which can still be seen. The Guadiamar River passes to the west of the village and is spanned by a bridge of Roman origins. In the main town square is the Fuente Vieja, an 18th century baroque fountain embellished with tiles. Las Minas Golf Course is just outside of Aznalcázar and there is also an equestrian centre in the town from where treks can be taken through the surrounding countryside and Natural Park.
Aznalcázar is 25km from Seville on a small country road. The rail line from Huelva to Seville passes close to the village and there is a railway station a kilometre from the centre of Aznalcázar.

Villamanrique de la Condesa
A remote village of 3700 inhabitants located in the midst of Las Marismas near to the marshlands of the Cota Doñana Natural Park and surrounded by pine forests and cultivated land. Villamanrique is a charming place and of particular interest is its baroque palace which has extensive grounds enhanced by exotic flora. The famous El Rocío pilgrimage is important to the village since Villamanrique was originally the nearest village to the remote site where the virgin of El Rocío was reputed to be discovered. The 20km walk to El Rocío passes through enchanting and remote countryside.
Villamanrique is 13km south of the E01 motorway that runs from Seville to Huelva. The village lies at the end of the small road leading south from the motorway. Villamanrique is 43km from Seville.