The Sierra de Cádiz region is very extensive. For this reason, in recent years it has become increasingly popular due to the wide range of offers it has to offer tourists. Within this region of the province there are nineteen municipalities, all with unimaginable beauty. For such a short period of time you cannot miss the following villages:
- Zahara de la Sierra
- Arcos de la Frontera
- Ubrique
- Olvera
- El Bosque
- Grazalema
- Setenil de las Bodegas
As there are a large number of villages, TUDESTINO will provide you with all the necessary information about the most important ones in the region so that you can organise and adapt your trip to your own pace and needs.
Therefore, we will recommend you several activities and what to see in each village.
Zahara de la Sierra
Town located in the centre of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It is situated on a hill. Rural and adventure tourism stand out here. This village has had a great recognition in 2022 as the Spanish series Feria: la luz más oscura, by Netflix, has been filmed here. If you visit this place we recommend:
– Homenaje Tower. It is in a good state of conservation. It is located in the Nasrid Village. It also serves as a great viewpoint.
– Nasrid Village. A site that runs along the crag where the village is located. You can see the medieval village and the main church, among others.
– Santa María de la Mesa Church. Built on the site of an old hermitage. Its façade stands out with its pink marble façade and the main altarpiece, which captivates you from the moment you go inside.
Arcos de la Frontera
This town is located on a ravine next to the river Guadalete. It is the largest in the region. During your stay in this town you cannot miss:
– Mayorazgo Palace. A palatial building from the 17th century. Inside is the current Cultural Centre of the village.
– San Pedro Church. Built on the site of an old Moorish fortress, it has a strong influence of the Sevillian school.
– Cabildo Square. In this square we find the most emblematic places, such as the Parador Nacional, the Peña Nueva viewpoint, the Minor Basilica of Santa María, the Ducar Castle and the Town Hall.
Ubrique
Set in a valley in the Sierra de Grazalema, this village is known for its leather industry. For this reason, you can buy products made from this material throughout the village.
– Calvario Chapel. This is a small hermitage that overlooks the village of Ubrique from the sierra. It has a hundred steps and, although it may seem tiring, when you reach the end you can enjoy a magnificent viewpoint.
– Interpretive Centre of the History of Ubrique. In this museum you can learn about the history of the town from its beginnings in prehistoric times to the Second Republic.
– Ocvri Archaeological Site. As its name suggests, this is a site strategically located at the top of the Salto de la Mora. Some remains of the wall, the baths and dwellings can be seen.
El Bosque
It is located at the entrance to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It has spectacular scenery, as the lushness of the natural environment stands out.
– El Castillejo Botanical Garden. Here you will learn about the flora of Andalusia. The stars of this garden are the Spanish fir and the Grazalema poppy.
– Santa María de Guadalupe Parish Church. Neoclassical style church where San Antonio de Padua, the patron saint of the municipality, is located.
– El Bosque Visitor Centre. Museum and Interpretation Centre on the nature of the Sierra de Grazalema.
Grazalema
It is a municipality located in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It has the highest rainfall rate in Spain.
– Los Angeles Chapel. Home to the patron saint of the village, Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. It is located on the outskirts of the town and only has a single altar.
– Nuestra Señora de la Aurora Church. Church dating from the 18th century. It is one of the most important monuments in Grazalema, as it was the scene of battles during the War of Independence.
– La Encarnación Church. It was built after the Reconquest on the site of an old Mudejar church. Inside is the image of the patron saint of the town, San Atanasio Obispo.
Olvera
Leaving the Grazalema Natural Park you will find this beautiful village which was formerly a refuge for bandits.
– Olvera Castle. Defensive fortress. The present-day castle is the result of the remodelling of the damage caused during the reconquest. It has only one entrance gate, two towers and the Torre del Homenaje (keep).
– Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Archpriestly Church. Of neoclassical origin and built on the site of an old mosque of which some remains can be seen. Its two façades and its Italian marble interior stand out.
–Los Remedios Hermitage. A Baroque style temple. It is one of the most important monuments. Inside you can see the carving of the Virgen de los Remedios.
Setenil de las Bodegas
The peculiarity of this town lies in the fact that its houses are embedded in the rocks of the mountain.
– Houses in the rock. This is the main attraction. In this area you can see how the inhabitants have taken advantage of the rocks to build their houses, which are called “”shelters under rocks””, as they do not alter the stone to build them.
– Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Parish Church. It was built at the end of the 15th century and belongs to the late Gothic style. Inside this building there is a pictorial altarpiece that represents some scenes from the life of Christ or the image of the Crucified Christ.
– Setenil Castle-Fortress. It is located in the highest part of the town. We can see that it has a medieval military architecture that in 1484 was taken from the Kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs. Nowadays, only the Torre del Homenaje and a cistern remain.
The quickest and easiest way to get to know these villages in this short period of time is through the following routes, as they are linked together to promote tourism in these mountain villages.
Route of the White Villages
This is the most famous route in the whole of Andalusia, as it runs through the mountain villages with a great Moorish and Roman cultural legacy. The villages mentioned above are part of this famous route. Unfortunately, in two days you will not be able to appreciate the beauty of each village that is part of it. For this reason, we recommend several days to visit all the villages in the region and fall in love with the area.
Grazalema Natural Park
It has a great ecological value and records the highest rainfall in Spain. It also has flora and fauna typical of the area along with caves, grottoes and gorges. Some of the aforementioned municipalities are located in the vicinity of this natural park. For this reason, we recommend that you visit this beautiful natural area and get to know the municipalities in it in the course of a day or even two.
The Sierra de Cádiz is a magical and special region that is home to a combination of nature and history throughout all the villages that you will find in few places. Therefore, from TUDESTINO we encourage you to visit it.