Roman in origin, Cazalla was famous for the quality of its vineyards and wines. Under Muslim rule a great fortress was built, of which there are hardly any remains today. Its urban fabric still bears witness to its past splendour as an important communication hub between Seville and Extremadura. The Calle Llana divides Cazalla into two: on one side there are steep alleyways of white houses; on the other side are most of the town’s major sights. The Plaza Mayor (the heart of the city) has some stately mansions of various styles but also fine examples of the more modest architectural styles of sixteenth-century Andalusia. The fourteenth-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Consolación has a beautiful red-brick Mudejar tower. Another important building on the square is the court building with its handsome Baroque main front. The Calle Virgen del Monte, with its stately stone-faced buildings, is the town’s most important street. The Covento de San Francisco and the Convento de la Madre de Dios are both convents with beautiful cloisters. The Iglesia de San Benito and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen are churches built in the Mudejar style.