Chucena: Churches, Haciendas, Wine and Routes

Culture

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Estrella is a Renaissance-style church dating approximately from the last third of the 18th century. The Baroque altarpiece in the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Estrella was created by Julián Giménes in 1788.

The central altarpiece contains a depiction of Nuestra Señora de la Estrella, the patron saint of Chucena, dating from the late 16th century. The original building of the Ermita de la Divina Pastora dates from 1781 and features Renaissance elements. The former church of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción y Santa Ana was converted into Chucena’s rural hermitage after the depopulation in the 19th century.

The Ermita de la Divina Pastora o templo de Alcalá de la Alameda was built between 1773 and 1781 by Ambrosio de Figueroa and his son. The present-day Baroque character of the Ermita de la Divina Pastora o templo de Alcalá de la Alameda dates back to a renovation carried out in 1779.

The remains of an old oil mill dating from the 16th century can be seen in the courtyard of the Hacienda de Alcalá. Hacienda Alcalá-Alameda is one of Chucena’s privately owned haciendas, whose exterior areas can be visited. El Juego de las Chapas is listed as intangible cultural heritage in Chucena.

Festivals and Wine

Every year in May, a pilgrimage known as „el Romerito“ takes place on the esplanade of the Ermita de la Divina Pastora. La Fritá is a rural event held at Dehesa del Perú by the Hermandad del Rocío de Chucena to raise funds.

The Feria del Vino de Chucena takes place every year in November at the end of the grape harvest. It includes wine tastings and activities focused on pairing wine and food. The programme also includes workshops and activities for children.

The Chucena-Mosto produced by the cooperative primarily uses the „Zalema“ grape variety, grown in its members’ vineyards.

Nature

Dehesa del Perú is considered a natural area characterised by holm oaks and cork oaks. The Ruta Haciendas de Chucena passes through a very flat, traditional cultural landscape dominated mainly by olive groves as well as grain and sunflower fields.

The Ruta Manzanilla-Chucena passes through riverside vegetation with holm oaks, poplars and white poplars.

Routes

The Ruta Haciendas de Chucena runs along the Camino de Chucena and the Camino del Puerto, then joins the A-481 and continues along Calle Torralba.

The Ruta Manzanilla-Chucena is a 20 km linear route of moderate difficulty, with a stated duration of 2.5 hours. It is designated for birdwatching, cycling, nature observation and hiking.

Other destinations you can discover include Linares De La Sierra, El Álamo, La Nava, Zufre, Cumbres De San Bartolomé, Aljaraque, Paterna Del Campo and Veredas.

For the higher-level travel overview: Huelva.