Marismas - Aljarafe route

Just a stone’s throw from the tourist and cultural hubbub of the city of Seville, exploring such a changing natural environment - marshes, countryside and even mountains - may prove to be a magnificent anti-stress method, an inner reset in just four hours. On this escape from the city you will feel small amidst the immensity of the wetland, surrounded by wild nature and open horizons. Traversing the marshes of the Guadalquivir on a motorbike brings serenity and recharges the batteries, but riding along lonely, winding roads, from one village to the next, savouring their cuisine and enjoying their magnificent natural area, will also brighten your spirits. The most ancient landscape and the work of man, history and the most advanced technology... in short, conservation, culture and leisure are combined in this short, varied and pleasant route through the outskirts of Seville.

After a satisfying day exploring the great monuments of Seville, it is nice to get on your motorbike, feel the wind and ride around the magnificent natural environment that surrounds it. You head south, leaving traffic and industrial estates behind, and after a few kilometres you will reach the Coria barge (stop 1). This is a small ferry you can use to cross the Guadalquivir while you enjoy a 5-minute mini-cruise. It allows you to completely switch off from the hustle and bustle of the big city. It is very affordable and it operates almost the whole day.

After passing through Coria and La Puebla del Río, you will enter the marshland area, the prelude to Doñana National Park: immense wetlands and rice fields brimming with life. It is impressive to see the huge flocks of migratory birds flying overhead and feeding in the marshland. In this section the roads are straight and offer no difficulties, apart from the occasional area that is in poor condition, where you should watch out for potholes and speed bumps, which protect the Iberian lynx from being run over. At Isla Mayor, a true bird-watcher’s paradise, there is a detour via very easy unpaved tracks (which are suitable for any motorbike: you do not need a trail bike), which will take you further south, right to the edge of the national park (stop 2). If you are lucky, you will see impressive flocks of deep pink flamingos.

Continuing the route, it is worth stopping at the La Dehesa de Abajo nature reserve (stop 3), where you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the marshes. The road then heads into the dense Pinares de Aznalcázar forest (stop 4), a very pleasant section to ride through at a leisurely pace. You should take care with the many speed bumps in place to protect the wildlife. It is a good idea to stop and enjoy the culinary varieties of the Lower Guadalquivir. It is the land of rice with snails, paellas and seafood stews. Rice with duck is another hallmark of its cuisine. Salted bleak, stuffed anchovies, shrimp omelette, crayfish with tomato, crab tails with garlic and in sauce, eels, Valencian stew, goose soup or rice with gurumelos (mushrooms) are just some of the culinary delights of the marshes. Incidentally, you will be riding through the lands of the Umbrete grape juice and the best table olives. It is worth bearing in mind.

You then continue along the green corridor of the River Guadiamar, passing through the villages of Aznalcázar and Pilas, on roads which are in excellent condition, with a magnificent surface and twisting bends to wake up your engine. After passing through the middle of Huévar, following the SE-639 and the A-8054, you will see the Sanlúcar la Mayor Thermosolar Platform, an impressive futuristic vision anchored in the Aljarafeña plain. If you want to explore it further, you can take the signposted detour (stop 5).

The route winds through the Aljarafe, a district spattered with small farmhouses and whitewashed walls, manicured gardens and palm trees that reach for the sky. After leaving Sanlúcar la Mayor (stop 6) and the majestic village of Olivares behind, an open horizon stretches out before you that seems to lead to North Africa. The road is once again lonely and winding, making it perfect for opening your helmet screen and feeling the air on your face. It is surprising to find the San Antonio tower by the route. A 12th century Almohad structure, it stands proudly against the passage of time and houses a large colony of birds. After passing through the whitewashed streets of Gerena, a village of Roman origin (stop 7), you return to Seville along the old N-630 road. At Santiponce you can visit the Italica archaeological site (stop 8), with its impressive amphitheatre, and the San Isidoro del Campo monastery. On your way back to the capital (stop 9), you will cross the Guadalquivir again over the Quinto Centenario bridge, where, despite the traffic, which is always heavy, you can enjoy a spectacular bird’s eye view of the river and the city.

Solar thermal platform at Sanlúcar la Mayor. A pioneering solar thermal complex in Europe, the renewable energy power plant has a main tower, standing 165 metres high, and a system with 1,255 mirrors (heliostats) that point towards the tower and reflect the sunlight onto it.