La presa de S. Bartolomé

San Bartolomé de la Torre belongs to the Andévalo region and is located in the Tierra Llana area, near the capital. Its main economic activity, which was once based on pastureland, olive groves, cereals, and livestock farming, has given way to citrus fruits and strawberries. Within its boundaries are a dolmen and monoliths dating from the 4th or 3rd century BC. The municipality has a population of 4,036. Historically linked to the Marquisate of Gibraleón, it gained its independence through the camaraderie of its citizens, with the granting of its town charter in 1549. --In 1871, the Tharsis-Río Odiel railway was inaugurated, which even had a train station in the municipality of San Bartolomé. Although the line was primarily focused on freight traffic, closely linked to the Tharsis-La Zarza mining basin, it also offered passenger services for several decades. The line was closed to traffic in 2000. --The toponym San Bartolomé de la Torre comes from an old tower, located about 700 meters from the town center, on a small hill no more than 128 meters high. Its construction dates back to the 13th century, a time when the territory of what is now the province of Huelva was immersed in significant upheavals, such as: popular revolts; border disputes with neighboring Portugal; and the desire of the Kingdom of Seville to maintain its power against the rise of the feudal estates. This tower is a clear example of a "watchtower," which controlled communication points with the mountain mining area and the coast, up to its border with Portugal. It consists of four stone monoliths with a single lintel doorway. --The 17th-century parish church of Our Lady of Repose, in the Baroque style and with a beautiful tower, has a cruciform floor plan with a small dome at its crossing. It is located in the center of the town. On the façade, just above the door, is a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was rebuilt after the Lisbon earthquake of 1775. --The Oil Museum was established to preserve and showcase the town's old olive mill, a reflection of its olive-growing tradition, evidenced by the existence of several mills throughout history. The mill was in operation until 1997, when it was acquired by the town council to house its new town hall. --Monument to the Dancers. The Sword Dance is an ancient folk dance. This dance is performed by nine dancers who dance to the sound of a drum and flute. -- In 2026, San Bartolomé de la Torre inaugurated a new recreational area near its municipal dam, a site of great scenic value. The San Bartolomé de la Torre stream supplies water to the reservoir. The area features a picnic area, bicycle parking, and a viewpoint. The reservoir is located about two kilometers from the town, on the road to Alosno. The dam was built in the late 1960s to supply water to the municipality, although it ceased operations in the 1990s due to health concerns, with Giahsa taking over the water supply. Another waterway that passes near the town is the Rivera de Meca, which features an old flour mill and its weir near the water treatment plant. If we continue along the Matuloso road, for about six and a half kilometers, we cross the Tharsis-Corrales railway line and the bridge over the Rivera de Meca. This bridge is the longest on the railway, at 47.76 meters. Tharsis-Rio Odiel Railway. The line was completed on May 9, 1870, and began operating on February 6, 1871. The last train ran on this line on December 22, 1999. The Rivera de Meca, also called the Rivera del Meca and the Meca River, runs entirely through the central part of the province of Huelva. It belongs to the Tinto, Odiel, and Piedras Basin. The Meca River originates in El Andévalo and flows into the Odiel River within the municipality of Gibraleón, after a course of approximately 40 km. The Meca River's flow is regulated just before its confluence with the Odiel River by the Sancho Reservoir (58 hm³). Its main tributaries are the Agustinos River, the Aserrador River, and the Dehesa-Boyal River. The Tharsis mines have created serious environmental problems in the area due to the generation of highly polluting acidic leachates that have a significant impact on the Meca and Oraque Rivers.