Écija

Date: from 01/05/2009 at 00:00 to 01/03/2010 at 00:00

Place: ÉCIJA

Some historians tell that the origin of the “tapa” is located in the province of Cádiz, specifically, on the way to San Fernando, where is the Venta del Gato that is the place where the King Fernando VII of Spain used to stop to eat and have a rest.

The King ordered a glass of wine and to prevent the entrance of dust in his glass, he requested that the glass was covered with a slice of loin or Iberian ham. That is the origin of the “tapa”.

There are other histories, maybe with less age or rigour, but all the histories coincide with the action of covering the glass that have originate one of the most rich and ingenious gastronomic traditions in Andalusia.

Asking for the recommended establishment “what tapas are there?” and you will be surprised with the quantity, the quality and appearance and, in many occasions, with their names.

What does the Route of the Tapa consist of?

The main aspiration of this initiative it’s the promotion and boost of the tapeo culture in our town, releasing the main bar and restaurants where people can taste a good tapa.

At the beginning of the route, the visitants mustn’t forget to pick up a map of the Route and a card in the participants establishments or in the Local Tourist Office that is located in the Local Historical Museum.

Every bar or restaurant participates with three different tapas that we will taste for 2 euros (tapa and drink).

When the card is filled out with our personals details (name, address, telephone and the number of our favourite tapa), we will deliver in the Local Tourist Office to participate in the draw (1 night stay for 2 in the Seville province and one set of gastronomic products of Ecija.

The bars and restaurants will compete for the first place as the best tapa that will be registered on a plaque which will be placed on the façade of the establishment in recognition of their culinary efforts. This activity, which is realized in collaboration with the Hotel Industry Association of Ecija, pretend to bring out the bar and restaurants of Ecija and offering to the public another alternative to enjoy with the Andalusian gastronomy with quality.

The Ecija Tourist Area will publish an informative brochure with a map of the participant establishments and some photos of the tapas. This map will be distributed in Ecija, the province of Sevilla and the cities of Córdoba and Sevilla.

Why do you must came to the Ecija Tapas Route?

The Route of the Tapa is another attraction to visit in this beautiful (nice) town. The gastronomy of Écija is the reflection of its history. It´s closely connected with the Andalusian cuisine and the Andalusian ingredients, which have an exceptional quality and variety. The olive oil is fundamental in the Mediterranean cuisine since the Roman time because Ecija exported larges quantities (amounts) of this product to the Roman Empery, through the Genil River.

Ecija, which was declared Historic-Artistic Site in 1996, is a nice town with a noble past and it’s flanked by his highest towers and baroque domes. Their towers make it’s good to walk around the street and squares, coming in on their palaces, churches and convents, disappearing in its monumental area to discover one of the most beautiful towns of Andalusia.

How long is the Route of the Tapa?

Unlike other towns where this route is offered only for a weekend, the Route of the Tapa of Ecija will takes places on 1st May 2009 to Mars 2010.

Information:

Tourism of Ecija
Camino del Físico Street, unnumbered.
Tel. +34 955 900 721
Email: informacion@turismoecija.com