What’s On
Lux Mundi visit Montilla
Recently friends of Lux Mundi, Torre del Mar made a coach
excursion to the town of Montilla, 40km south of Cordoba,
famous for its locally produced wines and olive oil. Arriving
mid-morning, the group was greeted by the local guide Inma,
who took them on a tour of the town starting with the
Convento Santa Clara, hidden behind a simple door in a wall.
Stepping through the door took them into a courtyard, where
they had first sight of the church façade in the Gothic-
Renaissance style. Inside the Gothic-Mudejar church was a
magnificent nave covered by a coffered ceiling. Inma
explained the history and pointed out the artwork and then
there was an opportunity to purchase cakes and biscuits made
by the nuns.
There was then a short walk through the historic centre, to visit
the Casa de las Aguas, a former palace and here it was
explained how it got its name and who the former inhabitants
of the palace were. It is now home to the Garnelo Museum,
which has the largest collection of paintings by the artist Jose
Garnelo (at one time a teacher to Picasso). Inma explained
many of the paintings on the way round the gallery.
The group in the Bodega listening to Inma
The final stop was to the Casa del Inca Garcilaso de la Vega,
home to Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, the son of a Spanish
conquistador and an Inca princess. The visit started in the
library with Inma explaining the history of the man, who
arrived from Peru in 1561 and his many literary works. The
group was then able to wander around the house visiting the
various rooms and shady patios full of lemon trees.
After a quick trip on the bus, the visit continued to the Alvear
Winery, the oldest in Andalucía founded in 1729 by Don Diego
de Alvear y Escalera, and boasting extensive vineyards, the star
grape variety being Pedro Ximénez. Standing inside surrounded
by hundreds of barrels and the sweet aroma of wine, Inma
explained the history of the winery, being wholly a family
owned business, now on its eighth generation, the different
grape varieties and how the wine is made. They then ventured
into the tasting room and had the opportunity to sample three
of the wines produced there, each wine accompanied by an
explanation. The visit finished with a trip to the shop, with
many of the group buying a bottle or two to take home.
The final stop was to the restaurant for a very tasty menu of
the day and a chance to reflect on what had been a wonderful
day in the expert hands of the guide Inma. Lux Mundi would
like to thank all who supported this trip, which enables them to
continue with their charitable work and we hope to see you all
again at future events in the Centre and excursions.
Inside the Convento Santa Clara Church
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