If you don´t enter, you won´t win! On Friday morning I had an Instagram message saying that I´d won a night away in a Valentine´s giveaway - for the following night. As it happened we didn´t have plans, so off we went.
The drive from home in Jaen towards Cordoba then onwards to Carmona is always a delight. Different in the varying seasons, no bright yellow fields of Sunflowers in February but rolling plains of emerald grass lit up by the sunlight made a very welcome change from our green, hilly olive groves of home.
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| Rolling Green Field and Farmstead, Carmona, Seville |
We stopped in the attractive town of Bujalance for coffee, a town I want to spend more time in, and then got to Carmona for lunch. There´s an ancient bar we like very near the city gates, clients oozed out of the doors, mainly smokers, but it was packed. Only Spanish could be heard and the only table free was a barrel to stand at. After sitting in the car that was perfect. The menu is tapas - lots of tasty, varied tapas. Order several then, if wanted, order more, we did. The bar, museum-like interior, dark and choc-a-bloc with dusty relics from yesteryear, is one we have to make sure hasn´t changed on each stop-off in Carmona. It´ll be a sad day when these old taverns disappear altogether.
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| Carmona from the City Walls |
We then checked out one of the bars recommended on a blog post by Cortijo Santa Clara, Mingalario, which was very good, but also packed. It was Saturday lunchtime. A new find for us was the Plaza de Abastos, a large open, arched plaza with bars peeking through the columns and a few bric-a-brac stalls tucked in the corner. I managed to buy two pairs of earrings for 2€ each, hubby couldn´t moan on Valentine´s Day and Wedding Anniversary week.
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| Plaza de Abastos, Carmona |
It´s always a delight to arrive at your stay for the night, normally I´ve chosen it, this time it chose us but I still did my nosey homework on it, I love trip planning and, trip planned, I had to find out about where we were staying.
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| Cortijo Santa Clara |
Cortijo Santa Clara our destination is a centuries old farmstead, still in the same family, just outside Carmona. This is a great destination to visit not only Carmona but Cordoba and Seville and from a lovely, rustic, rural base. Ideal for families with lots of space to run around in and pool for those hot summer months.
.JPG "Our lounge, Cortijo Santa Clara, Carmona") |
| Our lounge, Cortijo Santa Clara, Carmona |
Our room/apartment was lovely, a comfy sitting area with sink, fridge and workspace, and the all important wine glasses and bottle opener and fabulously comfy beds with great en-suite shower. Breakfast was a fine spread with jamon, smoked salmon, freshly baked cake, a variety of bread, jams, etc. Very good.
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| Our Bedroom, Cortijo Santa Clara |
A delightful place, an enjoyable stay and we would be back but with so many gorgeous places to check out we probably won´t. Have you seen some of my collection of great places to stay over at
Only Spain Boutique Hotels?
I forgot to do a video while there, have a look at my photo/video on YouTube (I have a video channel! Not great videos but give you an idea of the places) - Cortijo Santa Clara.
Want to see my video channel? Where to Stay in Spain.
See Cortijo Santa Clara on Booking.com (this is an afiliate link and I earn a bit of commission, to help me explore, if you use it to book.)
Or see other options of places to stay
in Carmona.
.JPG "Our lounge, Cortijo Santa Clara, Carmona")
