At the highest point of Carmona's ridge stands the upper alcázar, rebuilt in the 14th century by Pedro I of Castile on the remains of an earlier Moorish fortress. In 1976 it was converted into a Parador — Spain's state-run chain of upmarket hotels in historic buildings — and it remains one. Even if you are not staying, the bar terrace is accessible and worth visiting: the view from here, across the Corbones plain and the olive groves stretching towards Seville, is the best in town.
The building itself is atmospheric if you can get past the front desk. The original tower, some carved stonework, and fragments of the Almohad perimeter wall survive within and around the hotel complex. The terrace on the southern side is the main draw — order a drink and take your time with it. The Parador also has a restaurant that uses local Andalucian ingredients; the food is reliably good if not spectacular.