Route of Flamenco

Since in 1862 Serafín Estébanez Calderón confirmed it in his Escenas Andaluzas, Triana is considered one of the cradles of flamenco. The Altozano, The Zurraque, the mythical Hotel Triana, the Betis street, but also in Seville, Hercules's Boulevard, very near the place Manolo Caracol was born, or the neighbourhood of The Three Thousand Houses (Tres Mil Viviendas) are places where Flamenco has its place.

Alcalá welcomed many gypsy families from Triana, like the Gordos, who settled down at the surroundings of its Castle, which can be visited today. Agustín "el Gordo" ("The Fat Man") moved to Dos Hermanas where he ran "El Potro" Tavern, today the Ateneo's seat. This Flamenco singer of loud snort went to Los Palacios with his group, and also to Mairena del Alcor, where Antonio Mairena was born, being this one the owner of the Golden Key of Cante (Flamenco Singing).

Forge of great figures of the singing like Bernarda and Fernanda, in Utrera the creation of the first Flamenco Festival in history took place: El Potaje Gitano (The Gypsy Stew). In Lebrija, Juan Peña's homeland (el Lebrijano), the great event of the year it is the Caracolá (Snails). In Las Cabezas de San Juan: the club of Fernando el Herrero (the Blacksmith).

It is the heart of the route. Just to mention two neighbourhoods: Santiago and San Miguel, the very sanctuaries. Two fundamental names: Manuel Torre and Antonio Chacón. Two moments in the year: Festival of Jerez and the Fiesta of the Bulería. And patios of neighbours, typical taverns, club... Jerez or the flamenco smartness.

The smell to marshes and salt floods everything. Cádiz opens its arms to a much more opening Flamenco, more given to improvisation. Anything is all right because Cádiz is the door. Here it began the way to and the way back of the singings finished. And in Cádiz, there is Santa María, the very neighbourhood, where Enrique el Mellizo's singings were heard.