Every February, when the cold is still biting and the earth smells of wood smoke, Escacena del Campo celebrates one of its most deeply rooted and beloved traditions: the festival of Los Tostones. This popular event, which takes place in the village of Tejada, brings together locals and visitors with the aim of raising funds for the brotherhoods of San Isidro and El Rocío. The main delicacy is the tostón, a piece of toasted bread spread with garlic and oil and accompanied by sardines.
Los Tostones is not only an excuse to eat well in the warmth of the fire, but also a way of celebrating rural roots and the values of community life. Visitors to Escacena at this time of year not only get to taste a simple and tasty delicacy, but also enjoy an experience of integration, with stories from the past, traditional songs and the welcoming spirit of the village.
Cada año, a principios de mayo y coincidiendo habitualmente con el Día del Trabajador (1 de mayo), Escacena del Campo celebra una de sus jornadas más emblemáticas: la Garbanzada Popular, un evento que aúna tradición agrícola, sabor local y encuentro vecinal en un ambiente festivo y acogedor.
El escenario de esta cita gastronómica es el recinto ferial “José María Cerero Sola”, donde se instala una pequeña feria de muestras en la que se exponen los productos típicos del municipio, destacando aquellos ligados al campo y a la producción local. Esta feria pone en valor el saber hacer del sector primario escacenero y ofrece al visitante una ventana a la riqueza de su entorno agrícola.
Pero, sin duda, el protagonista indiscutible del día es el garbanzo, producto emblemático de Escacena del Campo, símbolo de su identidad agrícola y de su historia ligada al cultivo de legumbres. Durante la jornada, vecinos y visitantes se reúnen para degustar este producto cocinado de diversas formas, compartiendo mesa, conversación y raíces.
Más que una cita gastronómica, la Garbanzada Popular se ha convertido en una jornada de convivencia, en la que escaceneros y escaceneras celebran lo que les une: su tierra, su gente y su forma de vivir. El ambiente es animado, familiar y abierto a todo aquel que desee conocer de cerca la cultura local.
Cada mes de agosto, Escacena del Campo rinde homenaje a su patrona, la Virgen de Luna, en unas fiestas patronales que combinan fervor religioso, tradición y celebración popular en uno de los momentos más esperados del año por los escaceneros y escaceneras.
Los actos festivos comienzan oficialmente el 13 de agosto con el pregón, una intervención cargada de emoción que da paso al remojón popular, una divertida actividad al aire libre que refresca y une a vecinos y visitantes en pleno verano. Ese mismo día se produce la apertura oficial del recinto ferial, punto de encuentro para la convivencia, la música y el ambiente festivo que caracteriza estos días.
De carácter profundamente religioso, la festividad se enmarca en una novena que tiene lugar durante los días previos al 15 de agosto. Este día, festividad litúrgica de la Asunción de la Virgen, se celebra la Función Principal de Instituto por la mañana, seguida, al caer la tarde, de uno de los momentos más solemnes y emotivos: la procesión de la Virgen de Luna por las calles del municipio, cuando el ocaso tiñe de dorado la devoción de un pueblo que acompaña a su patrona entre cánticos, oraciones y muestras de fe.
Las Fiestas Patronales en honor a la Virgen de Luna son un reflejo de la identidad espiritual y comunitaria de Escacena del Campo, donde tradición y alegría caminan de la mano al calor del verano.
During the month of July, Escacena del Campo celebrates one of its most representative and unique festivities: the Fiestas de las Cruces, a deeply rooted tradition that revolves around the popular fervour for two religious insignia: the Holy Cross of Calle Tejada and the Holy Cross of Abajo.
These festivities are a key moment in the local calendar, combining religious ceremonies and popular celebrations. The residents enthusiastically participate in the proclamation of the festival’s young man, a symbolic figure who embodies the youthful and festive spirit of the celebration.
Throughout the festivities, religious events such as the rosary and the romerito take place, expressing the devotion of the people in an atmosphere of contemplation and collective participation. The culmination is the joyful and colourful procession of the crosses, in which both icons are carried through the streets of the town amid singing, cheering, floral decorations and an atmosphere of shared joy.
The Fiestas de las Cruces are much more than a religious event: they are a manifestation of identity, a testimony to the transmission of values and a display of the neighbourhood cohesion that characterises Escacena del Campo.
The Tartessian Fair in Escacena del Campo has established itself as one of the most unique cultural events in the region, offering an immersive experience that allows visitors to delve into the legacy of the ancient civilisation of Tartessos, whose archaeological and symbolic traces live on in this land.
This event is held annually, coinciding with Columbus Day, in Cantarrana Park, which is transformed into an authentic Tartessian village, with historical re-enactments, educational workshops, theatrical performances, exhibitions of ancient crafts, craft markets and family activities. The fair seeks to disseminate the protohistoric past of Escacena del Campo, closely linked to the archaeological site of Tejada la Vieja, one of the most important Tartessian enclaves in the south-west of the peninsula.
During the days of the celebration, the village recaptures the atmosphere of a remote era, when trade, metallurgy, religion and social organisation were already leaving an advanced and fascinating mark on the history of Andalusia. The participation of local associations, educational centres and cultural entities reinforces the participatory, intergenerational and informative nature of the event.
The Tartessian Fair is, in essence, an opportunity to relive history through emotion and experience, promoting awareness of the archaeological heritage of Escacena del Campo and the identity of its inhabitants.
Tejada la Vieja is a pre-Roman archaeological site founded in the 8th century BC during the Phoenician colonisation of the south-western interior of the Iberian Peninsula. Its emergence as a settlement is explained by its proximity to the mining operations in the district of Aználcollar and Río Tinto.
The site is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest in the category of archaeological area and Protected Landscape of Andalusia. It is frequently cited in scientific studies. It is the only Tartessian city to have been extensively excavated, with ongoing excavation campaigns since the 1980s led by the Provincial Council and the University of Huelva.
The most characteristic feature of Tejada la Vieja is its wall. It was built in the 8th century BCE using a technique that has clear construction references in the eastern Mediterranean and is the oldest element dated at the site to date. It is therefore believed that, since its origins, Tejada la Vieja has been influenced by the East, due to its contact with the Phoenician world, and that its emergence was planned, because the wall, as an urban element, would predate the city itself.
Tejada la Vieja provides very relevant information about protohistoric urban planning. It is exceptional due to the degree of preservation of its structures and, above all, due to its size. Currently, more than one hectare has been excavated, which is, however, only a small part of its archaeological potential.
The Parish Church of the Divine Saviour is the main religious temple in Escacena del Campo. It is a building constructed between the 15th and 18th centuries, which has undergone several renovations over time.
The church has a structure with three naves separated by pillars and covered by groin vaults. The chancel consists of a square main chapel with two side chapels. On the outside, the main doorway stands out, built in the Mannerist style, with a semicircular arch between Tuscan columns and a triangular pediment.
Another characteristic feature of the building is its tower, which stands at the foot of the church on the left-hand side. It is a brick construction with several sections separated by cornices and topped with a pyramidal spire.
Inside, the main altarpiece is Baroque in style and houses the image of the Divine Saviour. Other religious images of interest are also preserved, as well as various altarpieces and decorative elements typical of Andalusian sacred art.
The church is listed in the General Catalogue of Andalusian Historical Heritage, which highlights its historical, artistic and cultural value within the context of the County of Huelva.
The Fuente del Atanor fountain is located next to the old Ororuz orchard and, although the date on its structure is 1943, its origins date back to the 15th century, when it was used to supply water to a community of Franciscans of the Observance who settled in the area after 1453.
The fountain is shaped like a trough and is decorated with a ceramic altarpiece depicting Our Lady of the Moon, patron saint of Escacena. This element stands out not only for its architectural simplicity, but also for the spiritual aura it conveys.
The Fuente de la Cañería fountain was built in the 15th century by Carmelite monks who lived in a place called Prado de Luna. It met the water needs of both the monks and the residents of Escacena, serving as a point of connection between them all.
The water came from a spring near Paterna del Campo and was channelled through a tunnel that carried it to its destination. During the 18th century, it underwent significant changes as part of the tunnel collapsed, leading to the fountain being relocated to its current site. The Fuente de la Cañería fountain has been restored and its surroundings have been turned into a family leisure area.
