Today’s stage was the best yet – awesome scenery, good route, and not too hot. There was an early morning shower pre-departure which made the first couple of hours feel like being on a treadmill in a steam room, but after that it was just normal Spanish heat. Leaving Utrera it felt like being back in Italy, with narrow country lanes, olive groves, houses with big dogs, and lots of roadside garbage. Eventually we hit the countryside and we’re in open spaces. The route was almost a straight line between the towns as it followed the former path of the Roman via Serrana.
Alcalá has historically been known as the bakery of Seville due to the mills built on the river Guidaira during the Moorish period. Today, due to its proximity to Seville, it has become a bedroom community – but judging by many of the renovated buildings (and the country club we walked past), it is the purview of the well heeled. It is a pleasant city to spend an afternoon in after the obligatory nap following several hours of walking! We’re staying in the old ‘La Casa del Cura’, originally built for the priests of the neighbouring church. Many of the fixtures are original. See pic of courtyard below.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcal%C3%A1_de_Guada%C3%ADra
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