Cabra to the Hermitage of Hope

A long route along which we can explore the entire eastern part of the municipality of Écija. Starting from the Plaza Vieja, one of the town’s main hubs, we’ll set off towards the orchards of Alcantarilla. Once there, taking the path known as Camino de los Callejones, we’ll walk alongside the River Cabra through the river valley, flanked by vegetable gardens irrigated by irrigation channels on one side and olive groves on the other. Following the river’s course, though losing sight of it for a few kilometres, we’ll climb the slope of the river terrace, gaining height. It is well worth taking a moment here to enjoy the panoramic views, not only of the valley and its orchards but also of the town of Cabra itself, with the limestone peaks of the mountains and the Picacho forming an unrivalled backdrop. We will then descend once more towards the river, looking for one of the few bridges connecting its two banks, very close to the Ramírez farmhouse. This building, in a poor state of repair, still retains one of its defining features, by which it can be recognised for several kilometres around: a beautiful tower crowned by a hipped roof. Its presence, combined with the lush riverside vegetation that completely conceals the river amongst poplars, white poplars, ash trees and willows, makes this spot one of the most outstanding on the route. From here, a network of old footpaths and tracks, such as Matavino, Portocarrero, Lastres or El Colegio, will guide us through a rolling landscape of clay, loam and gypsum, shaped at will by the ceaseless flow of streams and rivers, such as Las Pozas or Santa María. It is in these watercourses, pockets of natural vegetation, where species of flora and fauna are concentrated, acting as wildlife reserves amidst the vast sea of olive trees. At the heart of the route lies the Ermita de la Esperanza, an old chapel that served the inhabitants of the nearby farmsteads who had no means of reaching the village’s parishes. For this reason, the chapel was established as a rural parish in 1735. Now gone following its sale by the bishopric, it originally had three altars: one dedicated to Our Lady of Hope and the other two to Saint Augustine and Our Lady of the Rosary, as well as a cemetery. From here, near the boundary with the municipality of Montilla and close to the highest point of the route (503 m), we seek out the path traditionally known as the Vereda de la Gamonosa, now largely lost in many sections, to descend gradually once more towards the low-lying lands of the River Cabra. On this route, we will have the opportunity to cross the Marchenilla stream or the Santa María river, as well as pass close to some of the largest and most important farmhouses in the municipality, such as El Corneta. The views over the karst massif of the Subbética will accompany us throughout the return journey, as will the numerous new buildings that have sprung up over the last decade in the Alcaidía area and the orchards, dotting the green olive groves, countryside, vineyards and vegetable patches with white.