MARCHENA- SEVILLA

 .I really like to be out and about.  This time I am roaming La Campiña Sevillana to take a look at the town life, visiting Marchena and the surrounding countryside of this beautiful rural area.
 Town life is often seen in the positive way as simple, tranquil, serein, laid back, calm and peaceful, where life moves at a much slower pace than, say, a big city.  This can be true if one thinks of the roads.  Formerly, Marchena had only four main roads running through the centre, with much smaller ones branching off them.  In these roads   the focal point of the area was mainly concentrated.  Still now,  the most important restaurants are located along them, together with local amenities and services.   
I am not exaggerating if I put down that Marchena has an important archeological heritage plus uncountable free tickets at your disposal to see  its spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  Everyone at one time or another has contemplted the beautiful red, purple and orange colours at the sky. Although colourful sunrises and sunsets can be seen anywhere, Marchena is especially famous for its twilights.  
Of course the town has expanded a lot.  Over the years the quaint image  of Marchena has undergone many changes and many neighbourhoods has expanded themselves with their own all important specialised shops, park, bank, chemists and so forth.  Perhaps the local authorities should consider translating  the forthcoming local events displayed at the new technologic notice boards along the town. I say this because many retired British people have chosen  Marchena has their place to live.  Most of them have prefered the surroundings of the town, though. This may be natural as, nonetheless to say, town life has become a little bit stressful.  Nowadays, the peace and quietness associated with towns and villages in general has been replaced by the thunderous clatter and the roar of motor cars,  powerful engine motos, lorries, buses and vans...  But it is not all doom and gloom.  Thanksfully there are still places where you can escape to for a taste of what many see as the quintessential town way of life .  Although most towns tend to have similar distinctive features, some peculiarities make them a unique place to visit.  A tourist cannot miss the city centre, where some important sites are located, as the Moorish defensive walls, the Rose Arch or the Citadel.

In Marchena, you cannot miss a stroll along St Juan neighbourhood with its stately houses, churches, Arab walls and house palaces.   The Zurburán Museum is also interesting.  Many of these buildings are very old, with some of them dating  back to five hundred years ago.   Of course, most towns would be come without its own churches.  As for me, the most beautiful one is St Maria Church, whose tower  is rather beautiful and smart.  Going back to churches I still remember that formely, many people in towns saw them not only as the place where the people got married  or attended the daily mass, but Churches has been connected to the meeting place - somewhere to chat and catch up with all the local town news.  Now I think Mercadona Supermarket has become without question   the 21st century meeting point  in Marchena (the invasion of large supermarket chains and the Mall in the city centre are the witnesses of progression). 
We can say that Marchena Fair is a really important event for local people but  Easter  is considered to be the highlight of the town year.  Marchena is very popular with tourists coming here in their droves to sample its famous "tortas de manteca", "piononos", "Chirri's tortas", "moyetes" or  "bizcocho Marchenero".  Also well elaborated "bacalao marchenero" and "espinacas con garbanzos" are just the thing to eat along with the Cruzcampo beer at  Alvarado Square;  mmm, scrumptious!!!
 Marchena is surrounded by a large area of fields where different colours are met at the beginning of the evening: ochre, yellow, orange, green together with the colourful of the sky, really amazing. 
Needless to say there are many wonderful sites to be seen next to Marchena.  My favourte ones, La Puebla de Cazalla Hills  and El Cordel de Jarda, whose areas are kept well maintained and most importantly af all, unspoilt of any future modern development. Reforestation is made and the Mediterranean forest finds a beautiful place to be expanded and preserved.   Along Jarda, for instance, you can enjoy some of the most breathtaking and glorious views of the surrounding area.
Yo can walk for some kilometres in a relaxing way, just marvelling at the sunset, so this is not especially recommneded to those who want to try something daring or do things the hard way.
Looking out over its vantage point is amazing.  You can see many things including "Sierra Nevada" Mountains in a cloudless sky day.   Lots of rabbits and turtledoves will welcome you.  I used to visit Jarda as a child with my parents and siblings.  I have fond memories of this place, so sooner or later I come back again.