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Utrera

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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a town of southern Spain, in the province of Seville; on the Arroyo de la Antigua, a right-hand tributary of the river Guadalquivir, and at the junction of the SevilleCadiz and Cordova-Utrera railways. Pop. (1900) 15,138. Utrera contains few noteworthy buildings, although it is an ancient town, still partly surrounded by medieval fortifications. The principal church, Santa Maria, is Gothic in style, dates from the 15th century, and contains some interesting tombs; but it was to a great extent restored in the 17th century. Agriculture and especially stock-farming are foremost among the local industries, which also include manufactures of leather, soap, oil and spirits. Large numbers of horses, sheep and fighting bulls are bred in the moorlands and marshes which extend eastward towards the Gaudalquivir, and a fair is held yearly in September for the sale of live stock and farm produce. Utrera was occupied by the Moors in the 8th century, and, though retaken by St Ferdinand (1230-52), was not finally incorporated in the kingdom of Castile until 1340. In the middle ages it was notorious as a favourite refuge of brigands and outlaws.