Posadas

Posadas is a town located to the west of the province, in a region half mountain range, half meadow. The first one belongs to Parque Natural de la Sierra de Hornachuelos, the greatest protected space in the province, with a great landscape value, filled with cork oaks, holm oaks and grove; apart from willow forests, ashes and alders. We have to add its important faunistic and hunting value.

The area of the meadow, with great farming richness, is washed by the River Guadalquivir, authentic main feature of its landscape.

The town stretches along the bank of the river without excelling the landscape, with the exception of the towers of its churches, like the one of Santa María de las Flores, with an original building.

We have not many references about the prehistory of the Posadas. A few years ago were discovered ceramic surface materials, found in Paterna and Cerro del Escribano, demonstrating the existence of people during the Chalcolithic, on suitable and favourable lands for the performance of agriculture and livestock which then were practiced, which led to the continuity of human settlement until the end of Prehistory.

An archaeological work documented the existence, in La Sierrezuela, of a megalithic tomb, dolmen type. This opens new perspectives for the understanding of the Metal Age in this area of contact between the Guadalquivir Valley and the southern foothills of Sierra Morena.
Researchers have been identifying Posadas with Detumo, an oppidum or fortified town from the Conventus Cordubensis. But this identification must be rectified, because Detumo was among Carbula (present Almodóvar del Río) and the mouth of Genil River, but on the left bank of the Guadalquivir and not on the right. In addition, it has not been able to deduce the existence of a Roman centre of population in Posadas.

However, in this Roman age, the mineral wealth of Posadas made since ancient times began to be exploited copper mines (Mina del Rey and Cerro Gordo) and silver-bearing lead (Paterna, Casa del Guarda and La Sierrezuela). In addition to mining, the valley area was occupied by the olive tree, finding archaeological remains and evidence of Roman presence in the many existing villae as Botijón, Vista Alegre, Mingaobez and La Corregidora.

In Posadas we can find the two stages of the Middle Ages: Islam and Christianity. Islamic domination is demonstrated by the existence in this place of Al-Janadiq (Las Zanjas or Barrancos) and that recently is given the place name of Al-Fanadiq (Las Posadas). It was part of the Camino Califal that connected Córdoba with Sevilla for the northern margin of the Guadalquivir River and passed by Almodóvar del Río, Posadas, Palma del Río and penetrated into lands of Sevilla. Abd Al-Rahmman I walked this path to achieve the conquest of Córdoba. Due to its strategic location, it was elected in order to the caravans of the Camino Califal make a stop.

From the last third of the XII century that town was gradually deserted, due to the constant threats of the Christian troops. Once they conquered Córdoba (1236), occupied those lands for the second stay in Córdoba of Fernando III (1240-1941). Later, Alfonso X repopulated this area to strengthen this strategic route, existing in this same location, in 1262 a town with the name of Las Posadas del Rey. The Camino Califal was renamed Camino Real and proliferated establishments for the rest of the travellers: the inns.

The important position of the territory of Las Posadas on the road from Córdoba to Sevilla, would lead to the construction of small forts on their land. The Tower del Ochavo from the XIV century that guarded the road from La Sierra to La Carlota and The Tower of Guadacabrilla or Cabrilla, watchtower of the Castillo de Almodóvar from the XIV century that guarded the Camino Real. In the early XIV century, it was decided to build a fortress because of the insecurity and for protection of the road, receiving the support from Alfonso X (1314). Later, over the fortress, it was built the Iglesia de Santa María de las Flores. The tower of the church was built on the tower of the fortress.

The focus of the local culture where inhabitants could learn was located in the Monasterio de los Basilios from the century XVIII.

Its agricultural production is typical of dry lands (cereal, wheat, barley, olives and grapes) and irrigated lands (vegetables, fruit trees, mulberry trees and cereal). It has oaks, dwarf evergreen oaks and oaks, which takes advantage of the cork. We also confirm the presence of wheat and oil mills, cattle sheep, goats, cattle, pig, and equine. Likewise it is practiced beekeeping, with the production of honey and beeswax.

Posadas has a dependent colonization settlement called Rivero de Posadas, located to 3 kilometres from it. It has the headquarters of the Peña Cultural Flamenca "Luis de Córdoba".

The origin of Rivero de Posadas goes back to the years 1956 to 1958, when it was carried out the forced expropriation of the dry farm "La Palma del Ochavo" that was divided into plots and installed irrigation.

Through some applications, all those who wanted, asked for a plot. In a draw in front of all applicants, the numbers were drawn and the plots were allocated. At the same time, it was being built the town, with a house for each smallholder and the same number for day labourers who wanted to live in the village.

From the years 1965 and 1966, families began moving to Rivero de Posadas gradually.

Monuments

Casa palaciega de la Plaza del Ayuntamiento (classicistic, XVI century).

Church of Santa María de las Flores (reformed Gothic), over the remains of the medieval castle.

Tower El Ochavo.

Tower of Guadacabrilla (s. XV).

Hermitage of Jesús Nazareno.

Archaeological Sites

Hill of El Escribano. Cerro de Paterna.

Entorno de la Ermita de la Virgen de la Salud.

Paraje de Estrella de la Torrontera.

Town Planning

Fountain of La Plaza de las Lavanderas.
Avenue of Pedro Vargas.

Gastronomy

Cold meats. Salmorejo blanco. Sopa de Ajo (consommé with hard boiled egg, garlic and sometimes bread). Tortilla de espárragos trigueros. Barbos guisados al vapor. Carpas en salsa de manteca. Queso de cerdo (brawn). Diablos (roast turkeys, with pepper, lemon and salt). Honey.

How to get there

You have to exit Córdoba and continue in: A-431. Alleyway of Villarubia, pass near Almodóvar del Río and continue until you get Posadas.

Distances