Where is Guadalcanal?

At the northern tip of the province of Seville, inside the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park and almost on the border with Badajoz. It's the northernmost village in the province, 1 h 15 min by car from Seville.

What are the must-sees in Guadalcanal?

A stroll around the historic centre (a protected Historic Site since 2004) with the Almona and the churches of Santa María de la Asunción and Santa Ana; the climb to La Capitana, the highest point of the Sierra Norte; and, if your dates match, Holy Week or the Guaditoca pilgrimage.

Where to stay in Guadalcanal with a large group?

Cortijo Los Tomillares is 4 km from the village and is rented as a whole to groups of 10 to 30 people: 9 double bedrooms + a loft, infinity pool, living room with fireplace and billiards, and 250 private hectares.

Why is Guadalcanal Island called that?

It was named by Pedro de Ortega Valencia, a native of the village and an officer on Álvaro de Mendaña's expedition, which reached the Solomon Islands in 1568. The village and the island have been twinned since 2013.

Country house in Guadalcanal (Seville): what to see and do in the village and around

Guadalcanal is the northernmost village in the province of Seville, in the heart of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Natural Park and within one of Spain's Starlight reserves. It has a historic centre protected as a Historic Site, the highest peak in the sierra, silver mines that were among the most important in Europe in the 16th century and even a Pacific island that bears its name. Cortijo Los Tomillares is 4 km from the village: here's what you shouldn't miss.

The historic centre

Guadalcanal's centre was declared a Historic Site in 2004 and is easy to explore on foot. Highlights:

The Almona, dated 1307: according to the Town Council, the oldest civil building in the province of Seville.
Church of Santa María de la Asunción, the parish church, built next to the remains of the old citadel.
Church of Santa Ana, a listed monument since 1979, which acts as a lookout over the village.
Church of San Vicente, the San Benito chapel and the former church of San Sebastián, now the food market.
Remains of the town wall and, in the surrounding area, the castles of Monforte and La Ventosilla.

La Capitana, the roof of the Sierra Norte

At 959 metres, La Capitana is the highest peak in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla. The best-known climb starts from the Ermita del Cristo, by the road, and follows the ridge of the Sierra del Viento: a half-day walk with views that on clear days take in a good part of Seville province and Extremadura. Bring water and hiking boots, especially in summer.

If you'd prefer something gentler, the Magrado – Pedro Otero trail starts at the church of Santa Ana: an 8.3 km loop, easy, about 3 hours, through meadows, orchards and olive groves.

The Pozo Rico silver mines

In the 16th century Guadalcanal had the richest silver mines in Spain: the Town Council describes them as Spain's first mining reserve, seized by Philip II and worked for 29 years. Jerónimo de Ayanz, the Navarrese inventor credited with one of the first steam engines in history, designed to pump water out of the mines, worked here.

To see a mine from the inside, a few kilometres away in Badajoz is the La Jayona Natural Monument (Fuente del Arco), with guided tours.

Guaditoca, Holy Week and Corpus Christi

Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Guaditoca: the Virgin, the village's patron saint, travels between her shrine in the countryside and Guadalcanal twice a year, in spring and at the end of September. It's a festival of Tourist Interest.
Holy Week, also of Tourist Interest, with very valuable religious sculpture and silverwork. In 2027 it runs from 21 to 28 March.
Corpus Christi: the silver monstrance is carried through the village, accompanied by the patron saint and the children who have made their first communion.
Early-Harvest Olive Oil Fair in November, devoted to the season's first oil. More on our blog.

Guadalcanal Island

Yes, the one from the Second World War. The Solomon Islands island was named in 1568 by Pedro de Ortega Valencia, a native of this village and an officer on Álvaro de Mendaña's expedition, in memory of his home town. In 2013 the village and the island were twinned.

What to eat

Local olive oil, Iberian pork and game, home-made cured sausages (chorizo, morcilla, salchichón), migas, wild mushrooms and asparagus in season, and sweets such as roscos, hojaldres and gañotes. There are several bars and restaurants in the village; one of them is in the Almona itself.

Around Guadalcanal

Huéznar waterfalls and the Sierra Norte Greenway (Vía Verde), ideal for walking or cycling.
Cerro del Hierro, a unique karst landscape.
Alanís, Cazalla de la Sierra and Constantina, with their castles, anise distilleries and chestnut woods.
Casas de Reina and Llerena, already in Extremadura.
Star-filled nights in a Starlight reserve.

More ideas on our blog.

Staying in Guadalcanal as a group: Cortijo Los Tomillares

4 km from the village, Cortijo Los Tomillares is rented as a whole to groups of 10 to 30 people: 9 double bedrooms and a loft for the children, 4 bathrooms, a 13x8 m infinity pool, living room with fireplace and billiards, wood-fired oven, a farm with animals and 250 private hectares. It's the perfect base for discovering Guadalcanal and the Sierra Norte with family or friends. More information on groups and celebrations, and free dates in the calendar.