Constantina
The largest town in the Sierra Norte, Constantina has a population of just 7000. It is an attractive town lined with palm trees and lies within the Sierra Norte Natural Park. During the Roman era, Constantina was an important colony and it has managed to retain its medieval character despite being quite badly damaged in the peninsula war. The 16th century parish church of La Encarnación has a classical façade designed by Hernán Ruiz which is beautiful, if a little deteriorated. Other important monuments in the town include the Church of the Concepción, and the 18th century baroque Hermitage of Nuestro Padre Jesús. A lively Carnival is celebrated in Constantina in February and in a festival of melons is held in early July. Constantina is 25km north of Lora de Río, the nearest town of any size, which is adjacent to the N431 main road. The village is 75km from Seville, 85km from Seville’s airport and 90km from Córdoba.

Las Navas de la Concepción
Right on the border with the province of Córdoba, Las Navas is a mountain village of 2000 inhabitants. It is a particularly attractive village with Andalucían style whitewashed houses decked with flowers in the summer. The main square, the Plaza de España, is a pleasant and quiet area frequented by locals passing the time of day. The 18th century church of the Purísima Concepción has an interesting interior containing 17th century sculptures. Also in the village are the ruins of a Moorish castle. There have been some important archaeological finds in the area including tombs where relics of jewellery and ceramic remains have been found. From the 28th of June to the 1st of July, festivities in honour of the village’s patron saint, San Pedro Apóstol take place and on the 16th of August there is a pilgrimage for the Virgen de Belén. Las Navas is 20km east of Constantina on winding mountain roads.

Cazalla de la Sierra
A village situated in a wooded mountain area in the heart of the Sierra Norte, Cazalla is frequented by Sevillians escaping from the city for weekend breaks. A village of 5000 inhabitants, Cazalla is 15km from Constantina and 70km from Seville. The road south from Cazalla is a scenic mountain route. Built on the top of a hill, Cazalla dates back to Roman times and although it has suffered somewhat from recent modern development, the whitewashed houses and pleasant streets of the old town are a joy to explore. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación is a huge building that has yet to be completed. An architectural anomaly, it contains a renaissance chancel with unusual honey-combed vaulting. The street to the north of the church, Calle Virgen del Monte leads into the lively market area of the village. Cazalla is renowned for its production of cherry brandy which can be sampled at the Miura shop. The train from Seville runs within 4km of Cazalla and this part of the rail line is particularly scenic. Cazalla’s train station is isolated and situated in an area of oak and olive trees. Just outside of the town is a hotel complex known as Las Villas. It has been built as a landscaped and terraced village with panoramic views over the surrounding area from its hillside position. Nearby is another hotel popular with writers, artists and musicians. It was constructed in a 15th century Charterhouse and in the grounds are the extensive and overgrown remains of the old church.

To the south of Cazalla is the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Monte. The hermitage was constructed in 1756 when a local shepherd claimed he had witnessed an apparition of the virgin. To commemorate this, a pilgrimage takes place on the 7th of August each year when locals make a journey to this beautiful place that overlooks a wooded valley. There is a rustic bar next to the hermitage.

El Pedroso
A mountain village located in charming rural surroundings, El Pedroso is home to 2500 people. Part of the Sierra Norte Natural Park, El Pedroso lies at the foot of the Sierra de el Pedroso. The village’s 15th century church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación was constructed on the ruins of what was once a Roman tower and later a Moorish fortress. Other historic buildings include the 15th century Carthusian monastery and the 16th century Mudéjar style hermitage of the Virgen del Espino to which baroque alterations were later made. Another piece of local heritage is the Cruz del Humilladero, built in 1540 out of a single piece of granite. Just to the southeast of El Pedroso is a large reservoir formed by the Huéznar River where fishing and other watersports can be enjoyed. El Pedroso is 14km from Cazalla at the southern end of the picturesque mountain road that runs between the two villages. Seville is 56km south of El Pedroso. The village is situated next to the scenic rail line that runs north from Seville and there is a train station in the village.

Guadalcanal
In the north of the Sierra Norte region, Guadalcanal is another mountain village situated in the Sotillo River valley, a village of 3000 inhabitants with a pleasant and laid back ambience. Surrounded by the enchanting countryside of the natural park, Guadalcanal was originally built in a strategically important location and the remains of a castle with its medieval ramparts can still be seen here. The village dates back to Roman times and was later occupied by the Moors who fortified Guadalcanal and gave the village its name: Guad-Al-Kanal. There are several churches of note here as well as a hermitage and the former Hospital del Milagro. Two pilgrimages take place to the Hermitage of Guaditoca each year one in April and one in September, the village’s main fiesta is held at the end of August.
Guadalcanal is situated at the crossroads of a number of country roads, some leading north into the Badajoz province. Guadalcanal is 85km north of Seville and 60km southeast of Zafra, a large town in Badajoz. The attractive rail route that runs north from Seville passes Guadalcanal and there is a train station in the village.

San Nicolas del Puerto
A small mountain village of 700 inhabitants situated in the centre of the Sierra Norte Natural Park, San Nicolas is a picturesque little place. Strategically important in the past due to its elevated position, San Nicolas was originally a Celtic settlement that was later occupied by the Romans. The discovery of silver mines in the area meant that it became important during the Moorish era. The Moors built a fortress here, the tower of which can still be seen. Local festivities include a pilgrimage in honour of San Diego Apóstol on the second Sunday in May and a village fiesta that takes place from July 24th to the 26th. San Nicolas is 7km southwest of Alanis.

El Real de la Jara
In an isolated location at the north western edge of the Seville province, El Real is adjacent to the Badajoz and Huelva provinces in the heart of the vast and wild Sierra Morena. Built in the hills by the Romans, El Real was strategically important to the Moors who called the village Xara. It earned the title El Real (the royal) in 1498 when the Catholic Kings wanted to show their appreciation of the village’s support of the reconquest of Granada. This attractive and quiet village of 1700 inhabitants has narrow and winding streets with typical Andalucían whitewashed houses and pleasant squares. There is a ruined medieval castle here that was built in the 14th century in order to help defend Seville from Portuguese attacks. The 16th century Mudejar style parish church of San Bartolomé is also worthy of note.
El Real is 65km from Seville and is located 7km from the main E803 road.

Almadén de la Plata
Another isolated village, Almadén is a pretty collection of whitewashed houses situated in mountainous countryside. The village became an important establishment in Moorish times when silver, copper and marble deposits were discovered and quarries and mines were established in the area. The village takes its name from the Arabic Al-Medin-Balat, meaning "mines of the Calzada". The village’s main feature is the town hall, originally used as a hermitage, whose bell tower rises above the houses of Almadén. The remains of the ramparts of the Moorish castle can still be seen in Almadén and an interesting civic centre has been built on the site of the original castle. Home to 1700 inhabitants, there are a couple of bars and restaurants in Almadén and some local shops.
Almadén is 12km south of El Real de la Jara, on the! border of the Huelva province. The nearest main road, the N630, is 10km from the village and Seville is 60km to the south.

El Ronquillo
In the north western part of the province, El Ronquillo lies on the border with the Huelva province in the Sierra Morena mountains. A group of whitewashed houses set in green countryside, El Ronquillo was partially destroyed during the war of independence and rebuilt in the early 19th century. The village’s 17th century baroque style church was restored in the 1930’s and contains some important 18th century statues and silver relics. Also of importance is the 16th century hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Gracia. A road runs from El Ronquillo to the large Cala reservoir in the east and to the west of the village is another reservoir. Fishing and various other watersports can be practised in these areas. 1500 people live in El Ronquillo and there are basic amenities in the village.
El Ronquillo lies on the main N630 road that runs to Seville, 35km to the south.

Castilblanco de los Arroyos
In the foothills of the Sierra Morena, Castilblanco is surrounded by gentle rolling hills covered with oaks alternated with green pastures and agricultural fields. An enticing and charming village of 4500 inhabitants who have a reputation for being hospitable, Castilblanco is close enough to Seville to have become a relatively popular tourist destination for Sevillians seeking to escape the city for rural surroundings. Castilblanco has Roman origins but it became important during medieval times when it was part of the route from Seville to Castile in the north. The mudejar style parish church of the Divino Salvador contains 17th and 18th century relics. Also in the village is the Casa de la Sierra, built in 1923, which is now used as an art gallery. A craft exhibition is held annually.
Castilblanco is 28km north of Seville.

El Garobo
A small village of 780 people situated in low lying mountains close to Seville, El Garobo is surrounded by agricultural land and oak forests. Destroyed by the French during the war of independence as punishment for the resistance of its inhabitants and later rebuilt. The mudejar style parish church was begun in the 15th century. The church originally contained a number of gothic sculptures which are now housed in the Museo de Bellas Artes in Seville. El Garobo is situated on the main N433 road that runs from Seville to Portugal. The village is 30km north of Seville.

El Castillo de los Guardos
A village of 1500 inhabitants, El Castillo is located in low-lying hills and surrounded by agricultural land. The area has a long and interesting history dating back to prehistoric times. There are dolmens, megaliths and ancient burial mounds near to the village and coins of Roman origin have been found in the area. El Castillo was also important to the Moors, who fortified the village and built a mosque here. The 15th century parish church of San Juan Bautista is of Mudejar style with later renaissance additions. The remains of the Moorish castle ramparts, virtually destroyed by the French during the war of Independence, can be seen.
El Castillo lies just off the main N433 road and is 13km northeast of El Garobo.

El Madroño
A tiny mountain village, El Madroño is situated in the far west of the Seville province, adjacent to the border with Huelva. Home to 370 people, El Madroño is a quiet rural village nestled in hills of pastureland and oak forests.
El Madroño is 20km from the main N433 road and 7km from the town of Nerva in the Huelva province. Seville is 63km to the southeast.