It’s been quite a while that Ana Maria and I are thinking about becoming members of the Morgan Sports Car Club España, the official Spanish Morgan club.
The main reason is that we feel a little bit lonely here in Madrid, as we know no one else with a 3-Wheeler who really use it around here. It seems that none of the actual members of the Spanish Morgan Sports Car Club owns a 3-Wheeler, but we still think it will be fun to become member of the club, as a Morgan is always a Morgan; we share the same passion, and we love the four wheeled machines too!
Our first contact with members of the Club was during the Retromóvil event by end of November 2022, in Madrid. In this event I was overseeing the Morgan dealer’s stand. They wanted to present and promote the brand new Super3. So, I talked to them, and I organized gathering in the stand three generations of 3-Wheelers: the beautiful 1934 machine owned by Sergio Romagosa, our 2019 Speedy Marmots’ Five Speeder, and a brand new Super3 that the dealer received just a few days before the event. The stunning trio was one of the most visited and pictured stands of the show.
It happened that the annual Morgan Sports Car Club España meeting was held in Madrid this same weekend, and many members came to visit Retromóvil, and obviously stopped by the stand I was taking care of. They told us to come on Saturday to their annual meeting and meet other Club members and enjoy a drink.
That Saturday November 26th 2022, Ana Maria and I went to the hotel where the Club members were celebrating the meeting. But when we arrived, the meeting had already started, and we could hear them talking about numbers and other stuff that sounded quite serious, so we decided not to interrupt. And because I was feeling anxious for letting the stand at the Retromóvil show with the three Morgans unattended, we left before we could even say hello to anyone.
Time passed by, and few months later our friends Merce and Simon, who live in Catalonia, became members of the Club. They just sold their 3-Wheeler and the 4/4 and acquired beautiful a new Plus Six.
Merce and Simon have already done a couple of trips with the Club, and they told us it’s being quite a nice experience. So, yes, let’s do it! And in April 2023 we sign in.
We have a warm welcome, and surprisingly the local officer managing the central area of Spain, Javier Gómez Barrero, has just acquired a 3-Wheeler. Another 5 speeder like ours. We’re not the only 3-Wheeler in the Club! And Javier lives in Madrid, very close to our place! Great news.
The Club organizes trips for the members all round Spain. And in July 2023 we receive the invitation for a nice trip in Southern Spain. More precisely to the area of Cazalla De La Sierra, 80 km North of Seville, in the heart of the Sierra Morena.
The members Joseph and Eliana, who live in Seville, have organized this appealing trip for October 5th to 8th. Ana María and I quickly check our calendar and decide to join.
Here is the story of this super nice trip.
Day 1 – October 5th: Madrid to Cazalla De La Sierra
Take-off day! We decide to drive to Cazalla De La Sierra in the Land Rover Defender, towing the trailer with the 3-Wheeler in it. Because, unfortunately, we’re overloaded with work, and Ana María must be working in the car while I drive South. The new Defender is a fantastic comfortable machine for this kind of trips. She can have her laptop connected via the car’s WiFi and plenty of space to use it.
It’s a Thursday, and we leave late in the morning avoiding the rush hour traffic, as we must drive around Madrid to reach the A-5 heading South-West. We prefer to take this motorway instead of the A-4 that goes straight South, because it’s in better conditions and, most of all, has much less traffic.
The motorway is clear, and we drive calmly until our stomachs start to claim for some proteins ingestion. The task now is to find a nice place, close by the motorway, and with a parking large enough to park the convoy. The Land Rover with the trailer measure almost 10 meters!
Ana Maria looks quickly in her laptop for a nice restaurant close by with good reviews, and she finds this place: the Meson Don Quijote, at the kilometre / exit 128 of the A-5.
When we arrive, we find a classic road restaurant just by the motorway. We park just in front of the restaurant in the huge parking they have and get in hoping it’s for real a good place.
And what a positive surprise! The restaurant has a fantastic wood fire, and they cook all vegetables and meats on the grill over the embers. Delicious! We are really shocked of the quality, the quantities, and we of course love the price. Everything is much cheaper once you leave Madrid!
After a nice coffee we hit the road again. We still have 330 km to get to Cazalla de la Sierra.
We leave the A-5 and follow the EX-A2 – still a motorway – until Villanueva De La Sierra. From here, it’s a normal national road in good conditions, so we can still drive the convoy with a good rhythm, with Ana María still concentrated in her laptop’s screen.
But then the relatively straight roads end, and we get into the Sierra Morena skirts on twisted beautiful roads. And Ana María, instead of enjoying the scenery, is still head down over the screen, resulting, moments later, in a serious dizziness that forces us to stop before it gets much worse.
After she recovers, and I convince her to close the laptop until we arrive to our destination, we keep driving on these beautiful roads, now both enjoying the typical Andalusian landscape, and arrive to Cazalla De La Sierra.
We are lucky, and very close to the main entrance of the hotel we’re staying at there is a fantastic huge place to park the convoy. And we don’t need to disengage the trailer from the Land Rover to download the 3-Wheeler.
The hotel is called Posada del Moro, and it’s a very nice hotel with a large backyard with garden and swimming pool, and a private parking where a lot of Morgans are already parked.
We leave our 3-Wheeler amongst the other beautiful machines in the back private parking, and after installing ourselves in a very nice and large room, we take a quick shower and come downstairs to meet the group.
We meet Joseph Luis and Eliana, and they give us the welcome bag, which is full of nice details, such as a bottle of wine, olive oil, etc. What a charming welcome!
They both introduce us to the rest of the Club members. It’s the first time we meet them, but Simon and Merce. We enjoy a really nice time on the terrace, drinking and eating and sharing stories and knowing more in detail the rest of the Club members who came to this event.
But as we are all very tired, because of a very long driving today, we soon go upstairs to bed, to recover energy for tomorrow’s route.
Day 2 – October 6th: first day in Sierra Morena
We sleep really well! This place is quiet and peaceful, and the bed was comfortable.
We come downstairs to enjoy a fast breakfast; and immediately after we get to the parking to get the machines and ourselves ready for the day.
This Friday marks the beginning of a journey through the Sierra Norte Natural Park, a mid-mountain region in the province of Seville that forms part of the UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve. The first leg of the route will depart from our hotel Posada del Moro, heading toward the Archaeological Ensemble of Itálica. Along the way, we will pass through the towns of El Pedroso, Caseríos, Las Jarillas, Castillana, the Río Greenway, El Biar, and Alcalá del Río, before arriving in Santiponce, home to the Itálica Archaeological Site, where we will stop and park.
The chose roads are very nice and calm, and the Morgans progress smoothly this morning on the tarmac.
The landscape is very characteristic: the “Dehesa”, the typical Andalusian and Extremaduran countryside, is mainly composed of holm oaks and cork oaks, on gentle hills.
The area’s crops are mainly olive trees and fruit trees.
We park all the Morgans very close to the Itálica Archeological Ensemble entrance.
There is a huge parking area behind the main road, so we can easy park all the cars together. Everyone puts the hood or tonneau cover on. Because the sun is getting high in the blue sky, and the heat will soon be very intense. This area of Spain is very warm.
But before we enter, we enjoy some drinks and appetizers at Casa Venancio, just in front of the site entrance. Joseph Luis and Eliana have prepared this first relaxing stop of the day with love, and we really appreciate their dedication to details. It’s another great occasion to know better our new friends.
After refreshing beers and wines, and grabbing some appetizers, we cross the street to the main entrance of Itálica archaeological site, where a local guide is awaiting us for the tour.
Italica was the first Roman city founded in Hispania, and also the first established outside Italian territory. Its origins date back to 206 BC, when Publius Cornelius Scipio defeated the Carthaginians at the Battle of Ilipa.
Walking through the ancient streets of Itálica is like stepping into the pages of history, where the echoes of Rome still resonate beneath the Andalusian sun. This remarkable site offers a rare glimpse into the grandeur of Roman urban life beyond the Italian peninsula.
Among its most captivating treasures are the exquisite mosaics that once adorned the villas of wealthy citizens.
These intricate works of art, crafted with countless tiny tesserae, depict mythological scenes, marine creatures, and geometric patterns with remarkable detail and vibrancy. Time has softened their brilliance, but not their beauty. We really enjoy admiring them.
Equally awe-inspiring is the Roman theatre, partially carved into the hillside, which once held thousands of spectators.
We enjoy our visit to the Roman amphitheatre and theatre, walk along the ancient walls that once protected the city, and explore the aqueducts and thermal baths.
Our journey continues through the Roman houses, wandering their courtyards adorned with the magnificent mosaics we mentioned earlier.
After a little more than one hour, we leave the place and jump into our Morgans.
Oh my God they’re hot inside like an oven! We wish we had air conditioning like Simon and Merce in their beautiful Plus Six!
The second leg of the day takes us toward Dehesa La Yerbabuena, passing through the towns of Guillena, Burguillos, and Castilloblanco de los Arroyos.
Dehesa la Yerbabuena is a traditional Andalusian estate located near Seville, in the heart of southern Spain. Surrounded by the sweeping landscapes of the Andalusian countryside, the estate is set amid rolling hills, centuries-old holm oaks, and sun-drenched pastures that are characteristic of the Dehesa — a unique ecosystem that blends wild beauty with agricultural use.
What makes Dehesa la Yerbabuena particularly renowned is not only its natural splendour but also its deep cultural roots. The estate once belonged to famed bullfighter José Ortega Cano and the beloved singer Rocío Jurado, two iconic figures in Spanish culture. Their legacy brought national fame to the finca, especially its prestigious ganadería de toro bravo (fighting bull ranch).
Today, Dehesa la Yerbabuena is celebrated for its dedication to breeding toros bravos, known for their bravery, elegance, and powerful presence in the bullring. The bulls roam freely across the estate’s vast open spaces, embodying both the wild spirit of the land and centuries of tradition. This harmony between landscape, culture, and animal husbandry makes Dehesa la Yerbabuena a vivid symbol of Andalusian identity and rural heritage.
We are taken on a special trailer to do a general visit of the land and see the toros bravos in the wild. It’s a beautiful experience.
But the best surprise was a very special flamenco show just before lunch: Imagine a scene that captures the very soul of Andalusia —passion, elegance, and tradition fused into a breathtaking performance. A flamenco dancer (bailaora), dressed in a flowing, vividly coloured dress, moves with fiery grace between the Morgans.
Beside her, a majestic grey Andalusian horse glides in perfect harmony, guided by a skilled rider dressed in traditional equestrian attire. The horse performs its own dance —elevated trots, precise pirouettes, and powerful strides —mirroring the intensity and drama of the bailaora. The connection between dancer, horse, and rider is electric, as if they share one heartbeat.
Surrounding this intimate and powerful spectacle is an unexpected yet enchanting touch: a circle of classic Morgan cars, their polished chrome and elegant curves reflecting the warm Andalusian light. The timeless beauty of these British icons contrasts with the raw emotion of flamenco, adding a sense of luxury and nostalgia to the scene.
This is more than a performance — it is a celebration of Andalusian heritage, a moment where tradition and artistry meet style and sophistication, creating an unforgettable experience for all of us who have the privilege to witness it.
After this magnificent show, we shelter from the heat in the interior of the house and enjoy a fabulous lunch. Classic Andalusian tapas such a jamón ibérico, olives, and many other appetizers that together with cold beers and wine made the best possible ambience. And then the main courses are fantastic too. The whole group enjoys the meal and renews some energy. We take a group picture in front of the main building before the next experience.
And what’s this next experience? Surrounded by the golden Andalusian landscape, a capea unfolds — an intimate yet intense bullfighting event featuring young vaquillas bravas (wild heifers). Though smaller than full-grown bulls, these animals are fast, unpredictable, and fiercely spirited, making the encounter no less demanding or dangerous.
In the arena, aspiring toreros and seasoned aficionados test their skill and bravery, performing passes with the cape as the vaquillas charge with instinctive power. Each movement requires precision, elegance, and nerves of steel.
The art of toreo, even at this level, is not mere spectacle — it is a deeply rooted cultural expression that balances risk, grace, and respect for the animal.
Adding to the tradition and drama, a picador enters the ring on horseback, mounted on a powerful Andalusian horse protected by peto. With lance in hand, he plays a key role in the classic structure of the bullfight, demonstrating control, technique, and mastery of the horse. His presence underscores the depth and ritual of the event, even in this more informal setting.
After the capea we get back to our Morgans and fire the engines again. It’s time to drive back to the hotel in the late afternoon sunlight.
The route back to the hotel is very pleasant, as we drive in fresher air with the sundown in the background. Passing though the villages of Castilblanco De Los Arroyos, Caseríos Las Jarillas, El Pedroso and finally Cazalla de La Sierra, where we refuel before parking the cars at the hotel.
Back at the hotel Posada del Moro, Ana María and I have a nice shower and change clothes, and we decide to walk the village before dinner. Walking through the streets of Cazalla de la Sierra is a relaxed and pleasant experience. This small Andalusian town, set in the Sierra Norte of Seville, has a calm, welcoming atmosphere. The first thing that stands out are the whitewashed houses, simple and bright, often decorated with colourful flower pots and traditional iron balconies. They give the town its classic southern charm.
The narrow streets wind through the town in a kind of quiet maze. Some are lively, with people sitting outside small bars having coffee or tapas, while others are peaceful and almost silent. There’s a local, everyday feel to the place — nothing rushed, just the natural rhythm of life in a small Andalusian village.
One of the main landmarks is the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación. It’s a large, historic building that you can see from almost anywhere in town. With its tall tower and solid stone walls, it gives a sense of the town’s long history and importance in the region.
Cazalla is the kind of place where you feel comfortable just strolling, stopping for a drink, chatting with locals, and taking in the surroundings. It’s authentic, friendly, and full of character. The nice and peaceful life in a Spanish village.
After the short walk, we go back to the hotel for dinner. A fantastic dinner we must say! We enjoy the company a lot and share our stories and experiences with our friends.
It’s been an amazing day!
Day 3 – October 7th: second day in Sierra Morena
The first section of today’s route will take us towards the El Cerro del Hierro Natural Park, a unique landscape known for its striking rock formations and mining history. From Cazalla De La Sierra, we’ll get there crossing Alanís and San Nicolás Del Puerto. Then we’ll take a detour via the SE-7101 to enjoy a little bit more roads before reaching the parking lot of El Cerro Del Hierro.
The roads are beautiful, and this time of the day, with the fresh breeze of the morning, is for sure the best time to drive a Morgan over here.
Walking through the Cerro del Hierro Natural Park is like stepping into a surreal stone labyrinth sculpted by nature and time. This former mining area is now a geological paradise. The trail winds through dramatic limestone formations that rise like jagged spires and towers, weathered into fantastical shapes over millions of years. These karst landscapes are the result of ancient seabeds that were lifted and eroded, leaving behind a maze of cliffs, sinkholes, and caves.
As we walk, the terrain shifts from open meadows to narrow rocky corridors. The iron-rich rocks give the cliffs their reddish tint, a reminder of the park’s mining history. Throughout the route, interpretive signs explain the unique geology and former mining operations, giving context to the rusted tunnels and stone quarries that still dot the area. It’s a striking contrast — nature reclaiming a land once carved by human hands.
We come back to the parking lot and jump into our cockpits. It’s time for a short drive to the next milestone: the restaurant El Martinete, the first food and refreshment stop of the day. Time for a fresh soda and few tapas!
It’s 11:30 when we park at the restaurant. We better cover the cars and park them under the shade of the trees, because the day is getting warm!
We thought this would be a short stop with just time to enjoy a soda and few tapas, but the ambience is so cool, we’re so comfortable under the shade of the trees, and the amount of food is so huge that we spend a long hour chatting and relaxing.
We’re a little bit worried about the quantity of food we’re having. Will we fit again in the tiny 3-Wheeler cockpit? And we’re supposed to have a big lunch later!
Lots of delicious food, wine, beer, sodas… we’re having a really nice time!
But it’s time to keep driving. There are more roads to enjoy before lunchtime. So, we come back to the parking and squeeze our bellies into the cars. Time to hit the road again!
Now our next destination is Puebla De Los Infantes. The road to get there passing through Las Navas De La Concepción is known to be beautiful. Let’s enjoy being behind the wheel!
The roads are as beautiful as expected. The Andalusian landscape is really special, and this area is greener than we expected, because Andalusia is generally known for being very warm and dry. But this area has plenty of trees and the roads progress along small water streams.
During the drive, the squadron gets separated. We didn’t notice until we arrived at Puebla De Los Infantes. We decide to stop by a nice-looking bar to refresh and wait for the rest of the pilots to catch up.
Not a bad place to wait! Some fresh drinks, toilet visits, and waiting some minutes in a really typical Andalusian “bodeguita” (meaning a bar where you can have beers, wines and tapas).
When the others arrive, they park their organs nearby and get in for their well-deserved drinks.
After some time enjoying the place and the Bodeguita “El Guinda” (that’s the name of the bar), it’s time to do some mechanical checks and drive to the lunch spot.
Everyone is really enjoying the day. Happy faces all around and excellent ambience. Lovely roads, nice food, excellent company and Morgans. Can we ask for more?
This stop at La Puebla De Los Infantes was not really planned. We made it just to reassemble the squadron. But, typically Spanish, we can’t just stop and wait for the rest of the squadron in the cars if we see a bar. And even less if the day is hot, as it is. No need for excuses: the equation is clear in our Spanish mind: need to wait + bar = stop and beers. Clear and simple.
But this has affected our timing, and now we need to speed towards the village of Constantina, and cross it to reach Los Pozos De La Nieve, where lunch awaits.
So here we go! The Morgans are not precisely slow cars in this kind of road. Very light, nice power engines – not to mention Simon and Merce’s Plus Six, which plays in another league – and very direct steering.
We reach Constantina, and just after crossing this cozy village we reach our lunch destination, we’re surprised again!
The place called Los Pozos De La Nieve happens to be a historic hotel and restaurant located outside Constantina. Originally built in the 17th century as an ice storage facility — its name means “the snow wells” — the building has been carefully restored, preserving its unique architecture while adapting it for modern hospitality.
We quickly park the Morgans outside in front of the beautiful main entrance.
Once inside, the house is jaw-dropping. The structure features thick stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and original snow pits, maintaining the character of its past.
The owners are really friendly, and they show us the rooms. They are simple yet comfortable, with views of the surrounding hills and countryside. They also offer fantastic apartments, which are large and super comfortable. The peaceful setting and thoughtful restoration offer a sense of quiet seclusion. We take good notes of the place, as it’s certainly the place to stay if we ever come back to this area.
The restaurant emphasizes local flavors, using seasonal ingredients to create traditional Andalusian dishes with a contemporary touch. Los Pozos de la Nieve combines history, architecture, and nature in a distinctive and authentic setting. They have prepared a fantastic table in the main entrance room for us. So elegant and cozy!
But before sitting down for lunch, they offer us a superb appetizer in the patio, just to warm up before the incredible lunch!
Everything is so tasty! It’s really a very nice place to stop for lunch, and sleep if you have the opportunity.
We must thank again Joseph and Eliana for such incredible organization! Everything has been incredible. Well done!
All the group enjoys this time at Los Pozos De La Nieve. But the day is not over! We still have a visit to do after lunch. Joseph and Eliana talked to the City Hall of Constantina, the village nearby, and as soon as they found out about the Morgan Club coming to town, they gently invited us for a special private entrance to the city castle.
When we finish lunch and come out to the parking, we’re surprised by the presence of local police cars, and a motorcyclist with a cameraman. Why is that? The city Major turned this Morgan Club event into a special event for the city and asked the local police to escort us to town while the motorbike will be driving around us filming our arrival. What a show!
We’re forced to follow the police car at its pace. We don’t know if it’s on purpose, to allow the motorcyclist with the cameraman go back and for filming the convoy, or if they believe our Morgans are too old to go faster, but they progress like a snail on the road… A little bit annoying for us, as our 3-Wheeler is air cooled and we’re struggling between 1st and 2nd gear with the cooling fan switching on and off while driving so slow.
We finally reach the town, and now the Morgan squadron is slowly following the police car through the narrow streets heading uphill to the castle. The villagers look at us stary eye-surprised while we pass by. The road up to the castle is normally closed to traffic, but today it’s open specifically for the Morgans.
But before reaching the top of the hill, where the castle of Constantina is situated, we stop at the Obrador Valle de la Osa. It’s a family-run artisanal bakery renowned for its handcrafted sweets and preserves. Established in 1940, they continue their century-old family tradition of producing natural, additive-free products using locally sourced fruits.
The bakery offers a diverse selection of over thirty jam varieties, and they have prepared a tasting experience specifically for us. A nice detail that we personally appreciate a lot. And we buy some to take them home and enjoy our breakfast reminding us of this trip.
The scenery from the castle is fantastic. We can see the village and the Andalusian landscape from up here as the sun gets down.
We spend a nice time up here and take the mandatory group pictures before driving downhill.
Now it’s time to come back to the hotel for the farewell dinner. We still have half an hour to get there.
We’re driving back to Cazalla De La Sierra with a huge smile on our faces. This second day has been as good if not better that yesterday. This our last drive of this trip with the Morgan, as we will load it tonight in the trailer and get it tied and ready for coming back to Madrid tomorrow.
Back at the hotel, we directly load the 3-Wheeler in the trailer, that’s been parked all this time in front of the hotel. We don’t put the ratchet straps yet, as the car is still very hot. I plan to do it after dinner, when the engine, headers and exhausts will have cooled down.
We go to our room for a nice shower and change clothes before the farewell dinner. Again, dinner is great. And we enjoy a lot the company in our table. We have made good friends and hope to do more trips with them soon.
We all thank Jospeh and Eliana for such an amazing organization and dedication, and such care of details. The veterans of the Club have made for Joseph a really nice personalized Morgan pilot doll; such a nice detail!
After this farewell dinner we say goodbye to everyone, as we don’t know what time we’ll have breakfast and who will be still there or already gone. Some have a long way back home!
After all hugs and kisses, we go to sleep, happy and very satisfied for the whole experience. Ana Maria and I are happy to have joined the Morgan Sports Car Club and are dreaming of future trips across Spain and further!
Day 4 – October 8th: driving back home
Last night I was too tired to come back to the trailer and tie the 3-Wheeler. So, early this morning before breakfast, I go in front of the hotel where the Land Rover is parked with the trailer and put the ratchet straps on the wheels, and check that everything is ready for departure.
We have our breakfast early and leave early too. The plan is to have lunch again at the same spot we did when coming here three days ago: the Meson Don Quijote.
Everything goes smooth and calm on the motorway. And as we approach the lunch destination, Carlos and his wife Concha, who live in Madrid and are following the same route as us driving their beautiful white with deep red upholstery Morgan, join us on the motorway and stop with us for lunch.
They’re a lovely couple, and we have the occasion to know each other better as we share lunch. We’re definitely very happy to have joined for this trip, as we have met incredibly interesting people.
We say a definitive goodbye to Carlos and Concha and hit the road again. We drive towards Madrid seeing them from time to time, but driving with the trailer makes us slower and we can’t speed nor change lanes as they do, so when getting close to Madrid we lose them for good.
We arrive home at the scheduled time, with no incidents. Happy and satisfied, ready for the next adventure!
