Hacienda Los Ángeles
16th-century convent
Located in the municipality of Alcalá de Guadaíra, Hacienda Los Ángeles is a remarkable example of exquisite rural architecture. It lies just 17 kilometers from the centre of Seville and approximately 19 kilometers from the city’s airport.
As significant as its architecture is its rich history. The origins of this estate, originally known as San Francisco Javier de los Ángeles, date back to the 13th century. A local legend suggests that this site—then known as the orchard of the Old Angels—was where King Ferdinand III of Castilla established his camp while leading the conquest of Seville, completed in 1248. According to tradition, the Holy King discovered here a Virgin who granted him protection in his endeavor. This Virgin, known as Our Lady of the Angels until 1579, came to be venerated thereafter as Our Lady of the Kings, now the principal patron saint of Seville.
With regard to its more thoroughly documented history, researcher Mercedes Gamero provides detailed accounts of the various owners of the estate between the 16th and 19th centuries. Among them, the Jesuit College of San Hermenegildo in Seville stands out, to which the estate was donated at the beginning of the 16th century by its patron Doña Inés de Ávila. For this reason, it was also known as San Javier de los Ángeles.
It is well documented that the College of San Hermenegildo expanded its already considerable lands, turning the estate into one of the largest agricultural properties in the area. The situation of the hacienda changed in 1767, when the Society of Jesus was expelled from Spain. The estate, along with the rest of its temporal possessions, was put up for public sale. In 1770, it was acquired for more than one million maravedís by Don Fernando de Silva y Álvarez de Toledo, 12th Duke of Alba and one of the main instigators of the controversial anti-Jesuit movement. At that time, Los Ángeles covered 400 hectares, and its main complex featured four large olive oil mills.
For centuries, and until relatively recent times, Hacienda Los Ángeles was devoted to the production of olive oil, primarily destined for the Spanish colonies. Its four mill buildings made it one of the most important estates in the Seville region within this sector.
Website: https://www.haciendalosangeles.com