Things to Do in Montilla

Inside the museum

The local museum shows the first prehistorical whale found in Spain, Mystacoceti, family Balaenopteridae, species Balaenoptera rostratella.
Also interesting paleo and neolithical pieces, coins, swords, tiles and other objects from Roman times to 19th century,

Address: Casa de la Cultura C/ Padre Miguel Molina, 2

Phone: 957 65 59 81


	Bodegas Alvear	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 7, 2004

Bodegas Alvear

Founded in 1729 by Francisco Alvear y Gómez de la Cortina, Count of La Cortina, it is the oldest and most pretigious winery in Córdoba. Don't miss this visit, they will explain you how the wine is brewed, you´ll feel the coolnes and aromas of the cellar and taste the magnificent wine.


	Casa de San Juan de Ávila	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 21, 2004

Fachada de la Casa de San
Juan de Ávila

San Juan de Avila is known as the 'Apostle of Andalusia'. He created learning centers for Humanities and Theology in the whole region and taught Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Santa Teresa de Jesús, and Fray Luis de Granada.

The house was built in 1567 and keeps a small museum and austere decoration from the time.

Address: C/ San Juan de Dios

Directions: Close to the house of Inca Garcilaso and the Palace of Medinaceli.


	Iglesia y convento de San Agustín	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 26, 2004

Church and monastery of San
Agustín

Tha old church and monastery of San Agustin was founded by leonese knight Alonso Sanchez in 1520.
The outside is Neoclassic with only one nave in the building. The altar is Renaissance style and the dome is inspired by that of Cordoba Cathedral.
Several valuable images by Juan de Mesa, Cristóbal de Guadix and Montilla-born Garnelo brothers.

Address: C/ Ancha


	Castillo y alhorý de Montilla - Yacimiento ibero	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 4, 2004

Castillo de Montilla

The castle of Montilla used the be at its peak time, the biggest in Andalucía. It was destroyed by the Catholic Kings 1508 as retaliation against the Marquis of Priego, who wouldn't fully comply to them. This castle had up to 15 towers and could lodge up to 300 soldiers and 400 knights. Queen Juana forgave the Marquis in 1510 and a new castle was built. The building we can see today is the castle grain deposit (or "alhorí"), built in the castle area in 1722. It has 3 storeys with 5 naves in the first one and really resembles a big church. It was bought by the town council in 1999. The Museo del Vino (Museum of Wine) will soon be opened inside. In the castle area we can also see an older Iberian archeological site and a statue of Corazón de Jesús by local sculptor Manuel Garnelo, dating 1940.

Website: http://www.montillaonline.com/cultura/Arqcivil/ficheros/castillodemontilla.htm


	Iglesia de la Encarnación o de los Jesuitas	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 26, 2004

Iglesia de la Encarnación

The old church was finished in 1558 by San Francisco de Borja who created a free school of Latin and grammar. The new church was begun in 1726, but remained unfinished after Carlos III expelled the Jesuits from Spain. The Franciscans moved in, since their monastery was in ruins.
Again in 1944 the Jesuits returned to their temple, and it´s popularly known as "the Jesuits".
In 1970 the older temple, of no artistic value, was demolished.

Address: La Corredera


	Iglesia de San Sebastían	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 22, 2004

Church of San Sebastián

The oldest temple in town, in early, austere gothic style.

Three naves that house an image of St. Sebastian, as well as images by Montillan sculptor sisters, las Cuetas, as well as an image of the Virgen de la Consolación said to have been found in a clay oven. It wears a cape donated by Queen Isabella of Castile in her visit to the town.


	Casa de las Camachas	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 28, 2004

Patio of the Camachas house

This 16th century typical Andalusian patio house is close to the old "meson" where the witches of Montilla, "Las Camachas", used to live. Cervantes mentions them in "El coloquio de los perros" as the most skilled witches in Andalusia. The legend goes that don Alonso de Aguilar being in love with Mayor de Solier asked la Camacha, the eldest of three sisters, to make her fall in love with him. He possesed her and she gave birth to Pedro Ximénez after whom the famous grapes from Montilla were named. The Soliers blamed not don Alonso but the witches who were prosecuted by the Inquisition.

Directions: Old Tarasquilla Street.


	Parroquia de San Francisco Solano	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 4, 2004

This church was built in 1681 in the place where the home of San Francisco Solano had been. Its style is early baroque, with a fancy tipology: the front entrance, designed as half a cloister or patio. The interior is austere with an image of San Francisco Solano brought from Granada in 1689. Beautiful tiled and roofed tower from 18th century.

Website: http://www.montillaonline.com/cultura/Arqreligiosa/ficheros/Parroquia%20de%20San%20F.%20Solano.htm


	Convento de Santa Clara	Tip Rating:

Updated By Miguel_Marques

on May 22, 2004

Entrance to Santa Clara

Built by the first Marquis of Priego, Don Pedro in 1547 as a part f his palace, it become an independent feminine monastery, but it kept the communication with the palace through an arch. Its first style was gothic-mudejar.

Impressive choir and beautiful entrance in gothic (nearly portuguese "manuelin" style) and plateresco. It is the most important artistic resort in town.