Osuna

Osuna is located in a privileged location in the heart of Andalusia, near the main arteries underpinning the mostimportant areas of human and economic community, the A-92 and National IV, onits way through Ecija.

This privileged location places it at only one hourfrom Seville, Cordoba,and Malaga and an hour and a half from Granada, Jaen, Jerez, and Algeciras.

Osuna is a town in the provinceof Seville, Andalusia.In 2008 it had 17,813 inhabitants. Its superficial extent is 592 km², and ithas a density of 30.16 inhabitants per km².

Its geographical coordinates are 37° 14′ N, 5º 06′ W. It issituated at an altitude of 282 m and 86 km from the provincial capital, Seville.

Its colonial founding law has been preserved (albeitincomplete); it is an important bronze inscription on several boards known as Lex Ursonensis (although the name “Urso” does not appear in it once), which isin custody at the National Archaeological Museum(photo from the first table preserved. A century later, Pliny the Elder citedit as the Cologne Urbanorum Urso Genetics (NH, III.12).

The origin of Osuna goes back to about three thousand years ago, when the city Turdetanos later became known as Urso. In the years 44 43 BC, following a previous forecast of Julius Caesar, the city was refounded byMarco Antonio, along with veterans of past civil wars, giving the status of acolony of Roman citizens and the official name of Colonia Iulia Genetica (alsodocumented in some inscriptions).

The Muslim period was called Oxon and was conquered in 1239by the armies of Castile Fernando III el Santo. In 1264 they surrendered to theOrder of Calatrava, who created the Encomienda de Osuna.

For its strategic position the city became a crucial pointfor the defense of the border with the kingdom of Granada Nazari. In the 15th century Calatravas knights give to the city of Osuna D. Pedro Tellez Giron, whose descendants held the titles of Dukes of Osuna during the reign of Philip II.

Geography

The township consists of 59,142 hectares spread overcountryside, flatlands, and clay, with heavy irrigation used for thecultivation of dry land. Osuna presents a more mountainous terrain in the Sierra Sur (Penibetica), a space that is used for the cultivation of olivetrees.

The average annual temperature is 17.7° C, with mild wintersand short and pleasant autumns and springs. The township is crossed by twostreams, the Salado and Peinado, and isbordered to the southeast by the Rio Blanco.

Nature

Because of different landscape within the municipality,areas such as Sierra, the Countryside, Wetlands, and the Lagoon of Calderon havedifferent types of land.

Osuna presents an interesting variety of landscapes, flora,and fauna, from the typical gallery forests found in the Rio Blanco to thegroves of the countryside, the flamingos and herons in the Lagoon of Calderon,the robins, foxes, and hawks, and all small game, including rabbits,partridges, etc.

Transport andCommunications

Major roads andhighways

Osuna is located in a privileged section in the heart of Andalusia, near the main arteries underpinning the mostimportant areas of human and economic community—the A-92 and National IV, onits way through Ecija. This privileged location places it at only one hour from Seville, Cordoba,and Malaga and an hour and a half from Granada, Jaen, Jerez, and Algeciras.

Media

The pespunte isthe first online journal of Osuna (www.elpespunte.es) and is also published ina printed version. It is a newspaper made by university students who engage inOsuna for its people to work independently and on a daily basis for objectiveinformation and in favor of the people.

Educational Infrastructure

Osuna has a sports hall in which the local team plays, the Osuna Boat Club.