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ALCALÁ DE GUADAÍRA
eco destinations
Alcalá de Guadaíra
S e v i l l a
Words and Photos: Jose A. Muñoz
Alcalá de Guadaíra, Located just a few kilo-
metres from Seville, it has become in recent
years a key reference point for those walking
the Camino de Santiago from the south of
Spain, integrating historical heritage, sustainability and
ecotourism into a balanced and authentic proposal. This
stretch forms part of the ancient Via Augusta, a Roman
route that connected Cádiz with Seville and later with
the Via de la Plata towards Santiago de Compostela,
and which is now experiencing a significant revival as a
route for pilgrimage and sustainable hiking.
Historically, Alcalá de Guadaíra has been shaped by its
direct relationship with the river that bears its name, the
Guadaíra, a central axis for the town’s economic, social
and environmental life. The river has influenced not only
the landscape but also the local economy, which in past
centuries was sustained by milling and breadmaking.
The flour mills are direct witnesses of that era, some
dating back to Arab times, others to the medieval pe-
riod, and still standing today—partially functioning but
now converted into cultural symbols and reminders of
the region’s ecological and heritage memory.
The Camino de Santiago, in its passage through Alcalá,
makes use of these cultural and natural elements to de-
velop a sustainable strategy. In 2019, the City Council of
Alcalá de Guadaíra officially presented the “Via Augusta
of the Camino de Santiago”, with the clear intention of
promoting a type of tourism that respects both the natu-
ral environment and historical heritage. The city has set
up specific places for credential stamping, such as the
Tourist Office and the Museum, encouraging pilgrims
to discover the local cultural and environmental values.
One of the key stages of this Jacobean route connects
Alcalá de Guadaíra with Seville, covering approxima-
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