The municipality of Greater Island (before year 2000 denominated Villafranco of the Guadalquivir) is located in the suroccidental quadrant of the province of Seville, in lands pertaining to the Salt marshes of the Low Guadalquivir. Part of its term is included in the scope of the Natural Park of the Surroundings of Doñana. In 1.996 it had 6,022 inhabitants, between who also were the residents in the town of Alfonso XIII.
The main body is located near the opening of the Guadalquivir, within the Greater Island, than in the antiquity it was occupied by the Lacus Ligustinus. The continuous drags materials of the river and the tides were forming a fangosa island in the opening, to the time that was been satisfied the salt marsh. The urban nucleus is completely surrounded by channels and zones destined to the culture of the rice.
In 1.253 Alfonso X the Wise person grants the Greater Island to the Council of Seville and in 1.272 to the inhabitants of the Guard (the present Puebla of the River), returning later to his primitive possessor. For some centuries these territories of salt marshes they have been taken advantage of for the cattle operation by the inhabitants of the surrounding populations. Little by little the shepherds were being constructed small refuges ("cattle ranches"), originating a dispersed poblamiento in the Island. In century XIX he is bought by the Marquess of House Laughed. Although he arrives at almost virgin century XX, the agrarian occupation of the salt marsh is made quickly. In 1.926, the Society of the Islands of the Guadalquivir (of English and Swiss capital) buys earth to the Marquess and initiates its process of transformation with the first plantations of rice. From 1,937, Rafael Mateos Scholarship, by order of general Queipo de Llano, gives to a new impulse to the culture marismeño him. Then, the town of Alfonso XIII is centering the dispersed poblamiento of the Island. In order to complete the colonization of the salt marsh, they settle, five kms. to the southwest of this town, a economato and a bar, that supply to the day laborers of the rice fields. Thus it is born what still it is known popularly like the Prop. At first, the poblamiento is seasonal, agreeing with the rice campaign, soon to be made more stable. In 1.956 a paper factory settles in which Villafranco of the Guadalquivir happens to denominate itself, that becomes independent from Puebla of the River in 1.994.
Villafranco presents/displays the typical morphology of the colonization towns, with a predominance of the streets of regular layout. Its road plot is to a great extent structured by the avenue that crosses in approximate direction the north-south. The residential apples of traditional construction extend by great part of the locality, specially in the sectors central and northern of the same one. In the western zone several promotions of plurifamiliares blocks exist. In the most peripheral sectors the complementary facilities related to the rice operation, as well as the equipment of governmental function are located (schools, sport facilities, etc.).
Between its constructions of artistic historical interest they emphasize the churches of San Rafael and Our Lady of the Carmen (this last one located in the town of Alfonso XIII).
