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Turismo de Alcalá de Guadaíra

Alcalá in the 20th century

URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIALIZATION

At early 20th century, Alcalá de Guadaíra is a town of Seville outskirts focused on agricultural exploitation of the territory, the transformation of raw materials and their commercialization toward the capital market: Cereals, flour, bread, oil and olives, and some other minor products (like soap), which made up the basis of Alcalá's economy.

Its population, tripled during the 19th century until reaching 9,000 inhabitants, was scarcely specialized: Day labourers and craftsmen, in an urban space characterized by the predominance of traditional houses of small importance, along with some singular buildings, mainly of religious nature.

Oromana Pine Forest
Oromana Pine Forest

The town's shape, starting from the abandoned original core of the Castle Hill, got longer in northeast direction, along the natural slope lines and the connection roads, principally the road Seville - Alcalá de Guadaíra- Mairena del Alcor-. This main axis is arranged during the first decades of the 20th century between the Duque/Perejil's area and La Plazuela, along La Mina (Spanish "The Mine", today Nuestra Señora del Águila St.) Street, expanding from the growing from the minor roads departing from the town outskirts: the road to Gandul, Arahal's road, the Zacatín roads...

During the first third of the 20th century, around downtown several neighbourhoods of popular character would be risen (as in the Barrio Obrero, or "Working-Class Neighbourhood"), in comparison to the relatively well off houses concentrated around the La Mina Street axis. Another important factor of urban development would be the progressive appearance or leisure estates for the Sevillian middle class, like the ones placed at the situated at the Calderón Ponce zone.

Villa San José, in the southern skirt of the Castle Hill
Villa San José, in the southern skirt of the Castle Hill

In the middle decades of the century the main tendencies established before were kept on, although the Post- Civil War period and the economic stagnation during National-Catholic dictatorship slowed down the town development. It was not until the 1960s decade when the town was started to be picked up, marked by an important process of industrial transformation- mainly focused on the Seville-Malaga road axis- which favoured Alcalá's social and economic boom. It is at this moment when a fast radial growth of the town begins, with new popular quarters (San Agustín, Los Toreros, Pablo VI...). There was a parallel downtown re-urbanization, at the expense of losing a great part of traditional houses and several singular buildings such as San Francisco Convent, Beca and Paulita Houses, etc.

As a singular phenomenon inside the Alcalá's outskirts development during the second half of the 20th century we have to highlight the repopulation of the Castle Hill, not only on its southern and northern slopes (with some important residential examples like Villa San José) but also especially San Miguel suburb (with popular built by their inhabitants houses).

Pictures Gallery - Churches

Watching, looking at in Alcalá is filling the retina with photos. Your eyes will take snapshots at every step. Access to our picture gallery.

Pictures Gallery - The Town

Watching, looking at in Alcalá is filling the retina with photos. Your eyes will take snapshots at every step. Access to our picture gallery.
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Ayuntamiento de Alcalá de Guadaíra (www.ciudadalcala.org)

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