The town of Marchena is located in the southeast corner of the province of Seville within the administrative district of la Campiña. The town centre sits at an altitude of 132 metres above sea level and has a spectacular view of the surrounding plains.
Human presence in these lands stretches back for milennium to the Bronze Age at least; this known by the excellently preserved remains that have been uncovered close to the town. However, the foundation of the nucleus known as Martia was in the year 169 B.C. in a period of peace when the romans were between teh Punic wars. During roman times the village was an agricultural settlement with very few settlers.
During muslim times the town expanded considerably and the town was walled in the XI and XII centuries.
By the middle of the XIII century, the town had passed to christian hands and, during the reign of Fernando III el Santo, the settlement was converted into a town until Fernando IV conceded the lands to the Ponce de León family. The actual name was proclaimed as such by the Catholic Kings.
During the muslim period the urban centre aquired the castle, located at the northern end of the town, and the urban centre, that extended towards the south and occupied the entire hillside. the streets are typically arabic, narrow and apparently without sense of direction but with the houses possessing large patios and leafy interiors.
During the medieval christian period (XIV to XV centuries) the town was renewed and extended. The ancient castle was converted into a veritable noble house and work was commenced on the Ducal palace.
From the end of the XV century to the beginning of the XIX century, Marchena had various walled gates which joined the town to the principal routes of communication. To the east, the Puerta de Sevilla which nowadays, opens to a wonderful interior plaza.
The Puerta de Morón, facing south is now surrounded by new buildings and this has acted as a nucleus for the spreading urban centre of the renovated town.
The Puerta de Carmona to the northwest and the Puerta de Osuna to the southeast, have both disappeared, although the position of the latter is recorded by a square from which originated the district of Andrés during the XVI century.
Más información:
http://www.sevillaclick.com/
http://www.ayto-marchena.com/
http://www.marchena.org/marchenahoy/
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