2. HISTORY Tower of Herberos The first human settlement in this area was Turdetano. The Romans founded ORIPPO that was a part of the Via Augusta, The Tower of Herberos (shown ) is one of the roman town remains. In the Arab period, no population centre is known . The present settlement comes from the land distribution made by Ferdinand III after the conquest of Seville in 1248
3. In this land distribution, the Castilian captain Gonzalo Nazareno received these lands, leaving them under the custody and administration of his relatives, Elvira and Stephanie sisters. These sisters found the image of Santa Ana, in a cave, where they built a church, which led to the origin of the present settlement “Dos Hermanas” (“Two Sisters”, in English). The first documents of this site are dated d in1404 . . The inhabitants became to be known as “Nazarenos” from the surname of Gonzalo Nazareno Santa Ana Iglesia de Santa Ana HISTORY
4. Dos Hermanas The town belongs to the province of Seville and is located in the metropolitan area at 12 km.(approx) from the capital city. SITUATION
5. GEOGRAPHY AND WEATHER The Guadaira river and the irrigation Low Guadalquivir Channel (named the “Prisoners´ Channel” because it was built up by prisoner republican workers after the Spanish Civil War) run across these lands. Among other streams there is one called the “Arroyo de las Dehesas” or the “Arroyo de las Culebras” (The Snakes Stream, in english). The mean annual temperature is 18,6º C, hot summers and mild winters. The raining seasons are Autumn and Spring (Mainly October and April) with a total of 52 days approx) in a year. This region has around 2.898 sun shining hours a year.
6. NOWADAYS Dos Hermanas has 123,000 inhabitants. It is one of 10 most important cities in Andalusia. It has a total area of 159 sq km. It comprises four districts: Dos Hermanas (center) Fuente del Rey Marismas and Puntales Adriano Montequinto
7. The industrialization of the town began in the late nineteenth century, starting with the facilities of jute yarn center and the first olives production centers . This generated a very important need of man power for labouring and caused a high rate of immigration which generated the first iimportant increase in population . EXPANSION
8.
9. TOWN ADMINISTRATION The Town Government of Dos Hermanas is done through a democratic managing council elected every four years. The Town Council is formed by 27 councilors. The Mayor, since 1983, is Francisco Toscano Sánchez .
10. ECONOMY The main economic sectors are: Construction Industry: It has been decisive in the town growth for many years although, due to affected by the current economical crisis, its importance has decreased. Other Industries: Besides the olive and jute yarn industries there are several industrial areas with a large number of important business.
11. Services. Includes an extensive network of public services, education, health, transport, trade. Agriculture. Mainly cotton and olive oil. There are several “olive haciendas” or farms for olives cultivation and vineyards for the production of oil and wine. Trading There is a great commercial activity, especially small traditional shops. Also, The Annual Business Fair is important. ECONOMY
12. EDUCATION PUBLIC EDUCATION Twenty-four infant and primary education schools and twelve secondary education schools. There are also some private and concerted schools. The University “Pablo de Olavide” (with 10,000 students approx) is located in the metropolitan area of Dos Hermanas. NON-ACADEMIC EDUCATION “La Universidad Popular” offers a different unregulated training courses.
13. TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIONS Roads: South Highway: Madrid-Cádiz East Highway: Sevilla-Utrera National and Regional roads Railways: Regional Line Commuter Train Subway Railroad No. 1: Montequinto-Seville. Tram-road planned: Montequinto-La Motilla Airport: San Pablo Airport at Seville (20 km from Dos Hermanas), connected by highway .
14. THE ROMERIA OF VALME. It is celebrated the third Sunday of October, with great popular participation. The people go in carts, horses or walking to the Hermitage of “Cuarto". This hermitage is located in the lands where the troops of King Ferdinand III camped during the conquest of Seville. This “Romeria” is declared of National Tourist Interest. CELEBRATIONS
15. MAY FAIR It is one of the most popular festivals in Seville province. The fair starts with the lighting at the beginning of the week and finishes with fireworks at the weekend. In the stroll of the fair there are carts of horses and horsemen and horsewomen dressed with traditional andalusian suits. The fair was declared of National Tourist Interest in 1998. CELEBRATIONS
16. EASTER Dos Hermanas has a very important Easter, with works of great artistic and historical value like the Image of Christ of “Vera Cruz” dated from century XVI.
17. PATRON CELEBRATIONS In Quinto, in the month of May, the “Romería de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles” is celebrated. In Fuente del Rey, they celebrate the feast of Saint Ferdinand At the end of July, the Santiago and Santa Ana patron saint feast is celebrated. The image of Santa Ana leaves in procession on the 26 th July. Procesión de Santa Ana
18. PLACES OF INTEREST “ ALQUERÍA OF PILAR”GARDEN It was built in 1872 by order of the poet José Lamarque de Novoa and his wife, the poetess Antonia Diaz. The park is of municipal property.
19. ALPERIZ PALACE It was built in 1905. This Neo-regionalist style palace is used as a Day Centre and Pensioner's Home. CULTURAL CENTRE “LA ALMONA” It is registered in the General Catalogue of the Historical Patrimony of Andalusia. It is a tower of mill with tiles of baroque style and vane of iron forging on the century XVII and vestiges from the Farmhouse of “Montefrio”. It is now a multi-purpose Cultural Centre. PLACES OF INTEREST
20. PLACES OF INTEREST CHURCH of “SANTA MARÍA MAGDALENA” It keeps the image of “Nuestra Señora de Valme” (century XIII). CHAPEL of “ SANTA ANA” It contains the image of “Santa Ana”, patron saint of the town. It is a gothic image Triplex in the century XIII. The Brotherhood of Santa Ana is the oldest religious association of Dos Hermanas: its rules date from 1523.
23. MY DISTRICT: MONTEQUINTO It belongs to the Town Council of Dos Hermanas, located at a site called Quintos. Diverse districts have been formed around Montequinto, like “Condequinto, Los Cerros and Villa Olivar de Quintos” etc.
24. MONTEQUINTO. History According to the historical background, an ancient Roman road ran through these territories, whose fifth milestone or landmark distance was here. Therefore, the Romans geographic references called this place "Quintus ab urbe lapide" (Fifth stone from the town).
25. MONTEQUINTO. Monuments Hermitage of “Nuestra Señora de los Angeles” (in the outskirts of the district) Great Hippodrome of Andalusia. Farmhouse of Montequinto. Municipal Park “Los Pinos”. Church, Market of Supplies, Municipal Library and Sport Areas
26. MY SCHOOL My school is named Gloria Fuertes. It is quite new: its construction dates from 1998. We have two lines, from Children age 3 to Primary 6, with approximately 500 students. The services of our centre are: morning classroom, school transport, extracurricular activities and scholastic dining room. Also we are a TIC Centre ( T ecnologías de la I nformación y las C omunicaciones - Data Processing and Communications Technology Centre).