Marchena

I just came from the town of Godoy's father. Fran, sure you know it, but it has not been until now that I have been able to visit it.

I have left the car in the first parking lot that I have seen and I have not ventured into the vehicle to the centre of the city; besides, you already know that I love to walk and thus be able to stop wherever and whenever I want.

One of the access gate to Plaza Ducal

I entered through one of the arches of the Plaza Ducal, where you can see the magnificent facade of the old Town Hall of Marchena. The Plaza is rectangular and was very bright according to the time in the morning and the time of year we are in. The Plaza has always been the place to celebrate important events and still continues to be the setting where the celebration of the Mandato takes place; and in the surroundings, following the road to the old Alcazaba, people gather to sing the saetas to the Virgin. As Godoy once told me, his paternal grandmother was an outstanding singer of saetas, of the so-called carceleras. They have in Marchena their own style of this cante that is performed at street level and you have to have very good artistic conditions to carry it out.

Arco de la Rosa

Then I went down to the Coullaut Valera Museum, which I did not know had been a great sculptor, with works scattered around Seville, Spain and abroad. I could not enter because, motivated by the coronavirus, it is necessary to request an appointment. It is pending for another time. I was seeing and taking photos of the Puerta de Sevilla which is also known as Arco de la Rosa, which is kept very well preserved and where I found an information panel that made me smile: to rehabilitate the Puerta, it was the Pope who had to give authorization!

Then I went up to the remains of the Alcazaba and I was very happy to have chosen this route because when I got to the top I found some restorations of the walls that I liked how they have been and from a small viewpoint that they have placed in one of the highest points from the town I was able to enjoy the best views of the roofs and buildings of Marchena.

Skyline

When I talk to my friend we will share things about the place where his ancestors were born.

Y. a.

Mary