Ecotourism 04. Inland Andalusia

#et04 

20 

SUGGESTIONS 

INLAND 

ANDALUSIA 

("TIERRA ADENTRO") 

Ecotourism 1

Once you set foot in Andalusia, 

you are no longer just you. You become 

Your Andalusia 

2 Ecotourism 

andalucia.org

CONTENTS 

04. THE TRAIL OF THE WHITE- 

WASHED VILLAGES The Cádiz 

mountain range, with a rich architectural 

heritage. 

nº 04 

Suggestions Inland Andalusia 

STAFF 

[Edited by] Concha Manjón/Entropía 

Ediciones 

[Published by] Salvador Hernáez 

[Textes] Comunicación y Turismo, 

S.L. / Handbook of tourism in 

Andalucía. Consejería de Turismo y 

Comercio de la Junta de Andalucía 

[Design] Alberto Álvarez de Perea 

[Community Manager] Alberto 

Álvarez de Perea 

[International] José Antonio Sierra 

[Commercial department] 

Concha Manjón / Estrella Torres 

[Webmaster] obolo.com 

[Translation] Isabelle Thévenet 

[Cover photo] 

Castellar de la Frontera (Cádiz) 

© Lorenzo Martín Iglesias 

08. CAZORLA This protection has 

made it a favourite destination for 

visitors in search of direct contact 

with nature. 

12. ALPUJARRA Its landscape is 

rugged as well is colourful, its orography 

is cut by ravines, gorges and 

valleys. 

16. SIERRA NEVADA It is the 

largest protected area in Spain and 

reserve of the Biosphere. 

24. CASTLES Andalucía is a land of 

contrasts, a passing point and coveted 

jewel since ancient times with 

numerous fortified towns. 

32. WALKING Walking is an ideal 

way of coming in contact with nature. 

There are routes for all ages 

and different degrees of difficulty. 

36. INTERMEDIATE CITIES The 

Medium-Sized Cities in the Centre of 

Andalusia have played an important 

role in the history of this region. 

42. THE IBERIAN HAM The Iberian 

ham is the ambassador of andalusien 

gastronomy dans le monde. 


White Villages 

Cádiz 

Zahara de la Sierra (Cádiz) 

4 Ecotourism

The Trail of the 

Whitewashed Villages 

SHEMSU.HOR 

This is one of the most 

spectacular routes in 

Andalucía where the 

history and cultures of the 

civilisations that settled here 

left deep marks. The white 

villages get their name from 

the tradition of frequently 

whitewashing the outside of 

their houses and they have 

typical narrow streets and 

red roofs. 

Many of these villages still 

have a castle or the ruins of 

one. This traditional route 

starts at Arcos de la Frontera 

(Cádiz); it goes through Ronda 

(Málaga) and descends to 

Castellar de la Frontera. 

A total of 250 kilometres 

through pure nature. There 

are species on route like the 

Spanish fir (abies pinsapo) 

in the Nature Park of los 

Alcornocales and also in the 

Sierra de Grazalema. 

There are numerous rural 

hotels, farms and ancient 

mansions adapted to provide 

accommodation, campsites 

and recreation areas. 

The Cádiz mountain range, 

with a rich architectural 

heritage, stretches to the 

north of the province along 

a steep, beautiful, green and 

thrilling route: the Trail of 


White Villages 

Cádiz 

the Whitewashed Villages. 

Arcos de la Frontera, granted the historic-artistic 

designation, is one of the most 

famous whitewashed villages. It is followed 

by Ubrique, El Bosque and Prado del Rey, 

not only famous for their stunning scenery, 

but also for their arts and crafts. 

Casares, El Gastor, Espera, Gaucín, Genalguacil, 

Grazalema, Montejaque, Olvera, 

Prado del Rey, Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas, 

Ubrique, Vejer de la Frontera, Villaluenga 

del Rosario, Villamartín and Zahara de la 

Sierra. 

Olvera (Cádiz) 

The village of El Gastor is called the “Balcony 

of the white villages” because of its 

whiteness and from its highest point (1.060 

metres) you can look down on the marvellous 

view over the neighbouring 

villages. 

Algar, Algodonales, Puerto 

Serrano, Benaocaz, Bornos, 

Espera, Villamartín, Olvera 

and Villaluenga del Rosario 

are also part of the trail. 

The trail goes deep into 

the Grazalema Nature 

Reserve, declared a Biosphere 

Reserve. Here you 

must visit the town of the 

same name, and Zahara 

de la Sierra, which has one 

of the most dramatic landscapes 

in the area. Finally, you 

will find Alcalá del Valle and 

Setenil de las Bodegas, with 

their unusual layout of houses 

built into the mountain, following 

the river's course. 

The villages on this route are Alcalá de los 

Gazules, Algodonales, Algatocín, Arcos de 

la Frontera, Benaocaz, El Bosque, Bornos, 

JAMES GORDON 


Setenil de las Bodegas (Cádiz) 

JMANTEAU 


Cazorla (Jaén) 

Cazorla 

Jaén 

The Nature Park of Cazorla, 

Segura y Las Villas 

This nature park, one of the 

largest in Spain with an area 

of 214.300 hectares, has been 

declared to be a reserve of the Biosphere 

by the UNESCO as well as a 

Special protection Zone for Birds by 

the European Union. It has a wealth 

of synergetic species that has favoured 

its declaration as a National 

Hunting Reserve of Cazorla and 

Segura. This protection has made it 

a favourite destination for visitors in 

search of direct contact with nature. 

It has an excellent offer for hotels 

and holiday cottages as well as 

numerous sports offers in the heart 

of nature. 

The rivers Guadalquivir and Segura 

have their source in this nature 

park, two rivers that flow through 

incomparable landscapes and the 

possibility to get to know over a 

hundred endemic species, notably 

the “Cazorla violet” and you can 

also see 36 different types of mammals 

in their natural environment, 

including the mountain goat, deer, 

fallow deer, moufflon, otter; mongoose, 

fox and birds of prey like 

the golden eagle; griffon vultures 

fly overhead, while back on land 

you can see the Valverde lizard, an 

endemic species. 

Places of interest in the Park’s area 

of interest: 

• The Tranco de Beas reservoir, 

remains of the San Miguel castle, 

Bujaraiza, de la Bolera and 

Aguas Negras 

• The Anchuricas and Valdeazores 

lagoons 

• The Negra, Cañada Catena, 

Montiñana, Los Parrales and 

Higuera fountains 

• The Bayona, Fresnedilla and El 

Robledo fountains 

• The Coto Ríos, Llanos de Arance, 

la Pascuala fountain 

• El Yelmo 

• The Saucejo and Cueva del Peinero 

refuges 

• The source of the river Guadalquivir 

• Las Buitreras 

• “Salto de los Órganos” 

waterfall on the river 

Borosa 

• Collado del Almendral 

synergetic 

park 

• The templar castle 

and the Tíscar 

watchtower. 

• The Moorish and 

Christina castles of 

Cazorla 

• The historic part of 

Segura de la Sierra 

TREVOR HUXHAM 


RANDI HAUSKEN 


Úbeda / Baeza 

Jaén 

Úbeda and Baeza 

World Heritage Sites 

Beautiful churches, impressive palaces, 

manor houses or surprising 

streets make up a monumental 

heritage impregnated with aesthetic and 

renovating feeling of the Renaissance style. 

Time has stood still in Úbeda and Baeza, 

declared to be a World Heritage Site. 

In Úbeda, you can see some of 

the main works of Andrés 

de Vandelvira around 

the plaza del Salvador 

like the Palace 

of the Vázquez, 

the palace of 

the Marqués 

de Mancera, 

the Granary, 

the building 

that houses 

the Parador de 

Turismo hotel 

and the church 

of the Salvador, 

the project of Diego 

de Siloé. 

The route passes the palace 

of the Conde de Guadiana, the 

House of the Towers, with a beautiful 

Renaissance style patio and the Hospital 

de Santiago. 

In Baeza the following are outstanding 

examples, the Town Hall, the complex of 

the Palace of Jabalquinto, the seminary of 

San Felipe de Neri, the Cathedral and the 

Baeza (Jaén) 

buildings around the plaza del Pópulo and 

the church of San Francisco 

In Jaén visitors can appreciate the Cathedral, 

Vandelvira intervened in the project 

and he is responsible for the Capitular 

Hall and the Vestry, a masterpiece 

in Spanish architecture. 

ANNA & MICHAL 

Continuing the route in 

the province of Jaén in 

Martos we have the 

Town Hall; in Huelma 

the parish 

church. 

Canena and 

Sabiote can 

boost of their 

magnificent Renaissance 

castles; 

in Villacarrillo 

there is the church 

of la Asunción and 

in Cazorla, besides the 

ruins of its parish church 

there is the Cadenas fountains. 

The route of Vandelvira and Renaissance 

aims at recovering civil, religious and military 

buildings from the sixteenth century 

for tourist use and in this way combining a 

territorial area rich in its monumental and 

historic heritage. 


Sacra Capilla del Salvador. Úbeda (Jaén) 

RANDI HAUSKEN 


Bubión (Granada) 

La Alpujarra 

Granada 

The Route of 

the Alpujarra 

La Alpujarra is situated 

between the Sierra 

Nevada, in Granada, 

and the sierra de Lújar and 

the sierra de Gádor in Almería. 

This area opens onto 

the Mediterranean from the 

heights of Mulhacén, the 

highest peak on mainland 

Spain. Its landscape is rugged 

as well is colourful, its orography 

is cut by ravines, gorges 

and valleys. The villages of 

this district repose and some 

times climb the slopes here, 

discovered by travellers in 

search of peace and quiet, 

good food and an excellent 

offer of action holidays: 

hiking routes, mountain treks 

on horseback, forests where 

stressed executives can get 

rid of their accumulated 

adrenaline by taking part in 

in “war games”. 

This area was inhabited by 

Phoenicians and Romans, 

however it was the eight centuries 

of Moorish presence 

that gave it its actual appearance, 

with architecture in 

the form of steps, irrigation 

by means of channels and 

ditches, the gastronomy and 

traditions and even the way 

of life where time is relative. 

Isolated and with difficult 

access for centuries, this land 

stayed virgin until recently. 

The village of the Alpujarra, 

with their white houses, the 

typical chimney pots and 

their terraces or “terraos” 

planted with geraniums and 

carnations, they tumble 

down the slopes between 

green forests with chestnut 

and walnut trees and the 

murmur of the water from 

the melting snow running 

down from the heights of 

Sierra Nevada. 

The beauty of these villages 

is only one 

of their many 

attractions. 

Lanjarón, 

spa town, 

famous 

for the 

longevity 

and 

good 

health 

of its 

in- 

habi- 


Capilerilla (Granada) 

ARCHIVE

JEANNE MENJ 


La Alpujarra 

Granada 

Trevélez (Granada) 

This area was inhabited 

the eight 


RANDI HAUSKEN

y Phoenicians and Romans, however it was 

centuries of Moorish presence 

ARCHIVE 

tants, is the gateway to this 

surprising Alpujarra district. 

Along the Poqueira valley, 

from Órgiva you ascend to 

the highest village in Spain, 

Trévelez, famous for its delicious 

ham. 

Other villages perched on 

the way up to the Veleta and 

Mulhacén are Pampaneira, 

Bubión and Capileira. They 

say this is an area of spirits 

and witchcraft, besides having 

a cuisine with a strong 

personality, based on pork 

products. 

The river Guadalfeo cuts this 

district across in two, forming 

the High Alpujarra and 

the low Alpujarra. The high 

part is south of Sierra Nevada 

with beautiful villages 

like Bérchules, Busquístar, 

Mecina 

Fondales, 

Jubiles or 

Yegen. 

The Low 

Alpujarra 

is the 

part 

of the 

Contraviesa 

mountain 

chain, with 

villages with 

a marked personality 

like Lújar, 

Sorvilán and Albondón, to 

mention a few. 

Villages that have marvelled 

local people and 

visitors alike. Pedro Antonio 

de Alarcón dedicated his 

first book of travels to the 

Alpujarra and the hispanist 

Gerald Brenan, who lived in 

Yegen, wrote “South from 

Granada” about the Alpujarra. 

For Federico García Lorca, 

the Alpujarra was the 

“country of nowhere”. 

Songs and dance make up 

an important part of a rich 

folklore and an ancestral 

tradition. 

The Moors and Christians 

festivals are celebrated in 

many of the villages, with 

the trovero verses from the 

Alpujarra being some of the 

most original. Two troveros 

take turns to sing, improvising 

the words as they go 

on. 

The fertile Lecrín valley is 

next to the Alpujarra, with 

plantations of oranges and 

lemons perfuming the air 

with their sweet blossom in 

springtime. Ancient flourmills, 

Moorish castles and 

farmsteads dot this quiet 

and luminous district. 


Sierra Nevada 

Granada 

Lagunas de Yeguas en Sierra Nevada (Granada) 


The Sierra Nevada 

National Park 

Right in the heart of 

the Penibética mountain 

chain, the National 

Park of Sierra Nevada is 

in the provinces of Granada 

and Almería, with an area of 

169.239 hectares and no less 

than 67 municipalities, 44 in 

the province of Granada and 

23 in the province of Almería. 

It is the largest protected 

area in Spain and the two 

highest peaks on mainland 

Spain are here, the Veleta 

and Mulhacén, with their 

perpetual snow on the north 

face of Sierra Nevada. In the 

east towards the province 

of Almería, it touches the 

foothills of the only desert in 

Europe in Tabernas. 

It has been declared to be 

a reserve of the Biosphere 

by the UNESCO and it has a 

high ecological and cultural 

worth with villages, especially 

in the Alpujarra in both 

the province of Granada as 

well as in Almería, that have 

kept their Moorish past and 

many of the agricultural 

techniques from the Middle 

Ages. 

This is the case of the irrigation 

system along channels 

and ditches that cut across 

JOSÉ Mª LUQUE 


Sierra Nevada 

Granada 

Sierra Nevada is an exc 

becaus 


Sierra Nevada (Granada)

eptional refuge for flora and its bio-diversity 

e of its geographic isolation 

the mountain sides collecting 

water from the thawing 

snow to water small market 

gardens. 

Sierra Nevada is an exceptional 

refuge for flora and 

its bio-diversity because of 

its geographic isolation, the 

steep sides of the ecological 

slopes and the diversity of 

its ecological nooks. It has 

2.100 catalogued vegetal 

species, 116 of them are 

endangered. 

Places of special interest 

close to Sierra Nevada: 

• Mulhacén (3.481 m), 

Veleta, el Alcazaba and 

el Cartujo Peaks 

• Trevenque Needle 

• Altera glacial lagoons (at 

3.146 m.) 

• The Mulhacén hollow, la 

Caldera, Corral del Veleta 

or de Valdeinfierno. 

• Aguas Verdes and Guarnón 

and the area of the 

lagoons (Larga, Caldera, 

Mosca, Aguas Verdes, 

Sietre Lagunas and 

others) 

• Ski resort of Borreguiles 

and Pradollano 

• And of course, all the villages 

in the Alpujarras in 

the provinces of Granada 

and Almería. 

DOCTOR CANON 


Doñana 

Huelva 

Doñana 

World Heritage 

Site 

The National park of Doñana was declared 

by the UNESCO to be a reserve of the Biosphere 

and a World Heritage Site in recognition 

of its merits that possibly make it the 

most significant protected area in Spain. 

A National Park since 1969 and an area of 

50.720 hectares, it is situated in the provinces 

of Huelva and Seville. 

Doñana and its district are made up of flat 

lands with marshes and sand dunes, situated 

between the ancient terraces of the 

river Guadalquivir, in the provinces of Huelva 

and Seville. 

The absence of relief is one of its characteristics 

and this orography made it 

accessible for different civilisations 

to settle here with 

their economy based on 

the wealth of the land, 

the streams, rivers and 

the sea; that provided 

grazing for the cattle, 

abundant and varied 

game, as well as 

good fishing along the 

extensive coast; there 

was also honey, salt and 

other produce from the 

marshes. 

ARCHIVE 

Mazagón (Huelva) 


Parc National de Doñana en Almonte (Huelva) 


Doñana 

Huelva 

At present, the National 

Park of Doñana keeps its 

traditions alive, at the same 

time it is open to new times 

with the main objective of 

continuing to be the most 

important wetlands in Europe. 

Each year flocks of geese 

arrive in tens of thousands, 

establishing their winter 

home here in the marshes. 

Large colonies of spoonbills, 

purple herons, night 

herons, squacco herons, 

storks make the tree tops of 

the old cork oaks into giant 

birdcages, a unique sight, 

especially at sunset. 

The Iberian lynx and the imperial 

eagle are emblematic 

species in the National 

Park of Doñana. For nature 

lovers, there are companies 

dedicated to action 

holidays that organise 

excursions. 

• The most extensive 

beach of all 

the mainland coasts, 

from Sanlúcar de Barrameda 

(Cádiz) to Mazagón 

(Huelva) 

• The Caveros well of Roman 

origins. 

• Nature Interpretation 

and Reception Centres 

• Acebuche Lagoon 

• Rocina Stream 

• The Coto del Rey y del 

Faro pine grove 

• The Hinojos marshes 

• The Asperillo cliffs on the 

coast of Almonte 

• Romería type pilgrimage 

to Rocío 

• The Marismillas and Matasgordas 

forests 

• The Towers of el Loro, 

la Higuera, Carbo-nero 

Zalabar and San Jacinto 

• The Aviario lagoon 

• The Acebrón palace and 

pond 

Places of special 

interest close to the 

Doñana National 

Park: 


ARCHIVE 

PEDRO CARRILLO

Matalascañas (Huelva) 


Castles 

Andalusia 

Château de La Mota en Alcalá la Real (Jaén) 


The route of the Castles 

AYTO. ALCALÁ LA REAL 

Andalusia is a land of 

contrasts, a passing 

point and coveted 

jewel since ancient times 

with numerous fortified 

towns as well as castles, 

alcazabas, alcázares and 

watchtowers dotting its 

geography. As well as the armies 

that marched through 

the lands of Andalucía, the 

soldiers were followed by 

monks who also built monasteries 

and part of the 

nobility converted the castles 

into palaces, especially 

during the Renaissance 

period. 

With the arrival of 

Napoleon’s troops, the abolition 

of mortmain and with 

the nobility abandoning 

castles and palaces, a period 

of abandon started and the 

patio of the Vélez Blanco 

castle was even sold to the 

Museum of New York. 

Historically Jaén is the key 

to Andalucía because of its 

strategic situation and the 

number of fortifications 

were built here especially 

during the kingdoms of Taifas. 

These important forts 

were designed by the Moors 

and rebuilt by the Christians. 

This route takes us through 

Baños de la Encina with its 


Castles 


Historically Jaén i 

situati 


Chateâu de Baños de la Encina (Jaén)

s the key to Andalusia because of its strategic 

on and the number of fortifications 

castle that controlled the 

entrance into Andalusia 

from Castile through the 

Despeñaperros pass and to 

the Santa Catalina castle in 

the city of Jaén that was the 

residence of the king San 

Fernando. In Segura de la 

Sierra, Cazorla, Sabiote and 

la Iruela there are impressive 

military forts. 

Seville has conserved its 

Alcázar, where Moorish and 

Christian art blend and there 

are other examples like the 

Silver and Gold towers as 

well as the Cartuja de las 

Cuevas, it was a residency 

for a time and Christopher 

Columbus’ tomb is here. 

King Fernando the Christian 

king, was the main impelling 

force behind the construction 

of castles and monasteries 

in this province. Leaving 

the city of Seville you head 

for Espartinas, Santiponce 

(monastery of San Isidoro 

del Campo), La Algaba with 

the Torre de los Guzmanes 

tower and continuing until 

you reach Cazalla de la 

Sierra. 

There is a second itinerary 

that leaves Carmona with 

the remains of the Roman 

and Moorish defensives, 

DIPUTACIÓN DE JAÉN 


Castles 


Cádiz and Málaga we 


Chateâu de Otíñar (Jaén)

e lands on the frontier and consequently heavily 

fortified 

JOSÉ JIMÉNEZ GARRIDO 

and goes to Alcalá de Guadaíra 

and Utrera, with three 

splendid castles in the countryside 

Los Molares, Las 

Aguzaderas and the Cote 

castles, passing through 

Montellano. 

The marks on the places 

related to Christopher Columbus 

are unmistakable, 

especially in La Rábida with 

its small Franciscan convent: 

Moguer and its Santa Clara 

monastery which has been 

recently restored, is on the 

same route. You also have 

to visit Niebla and go into 

rapture before the personality 

of the Guzmanes castle 

as well as Lucena del Puerto, 

the Hacienda de la Luz. 

There is another route that 

leaves Aroche and Cortegana 

through the mountains 

of Aracena, where there are 

fortifications that were built 

to deter any possible attack 

by Portuguese invaders. You 

complete this route by visiting 

Almonáster, Cumbres 

Mayores and Santa Olalla 

with its castle. 

Cádiz and Málaga were 

lands on the frontier and 

consequently heavily fortified. 

There is a route that 

sets off from the Medieval 

image of the village of Olvera 

with the ruins of its castle, 


Castles 


In Córdoba you ca 

Some of the castle 


Chateâu de Luque (Córdoba)

n see the intense power of the noble estates. 

s and palaces are in the hands of the nobility 

ARCHIVE 

you continue on to Ronda 

that has conserved some 

parts of its walls. The castles 

of Atajate and Benaladid are 

cemeteries today, the bastions 

of Jimena and Castellar 

de la Frontera have been 

conserved, the Almoraima 

convent is in this municipality, 

built in the sixteenth 

century and occupied by the 

Mercedarians. And in Tarifa, 

at the end of this route, the 

impressive castle of Guzmán 

el Bueno (eleventh century) 

that recalls the legendary 

heroic deed of the knight 

who preferred to lose his 

son rather than surrender to 

the Moors. 

In Córdoba you can see the 

intense power and impetus 

of the noble estates, this is 

such that some of the castles 

and palaces are in the 

hands of the nobility, like 

the Almodóvar castle situated 

on the banks of the river 

Guadalquivir, with its eight 

defiant towers. 

Continue on to the city of 

Córdoba (monastery of San 

Jerónimo, Alcázar de los 

Reyes Católicos, Torre de 

la Calahorra) and then to 

Espiel and Bélmez with the 

rocky castle and then on 

to the magnificent forts at 

Belalcázar. 


Action Tourism 


Rivera de Huesna. Vía Verde Sierra Norte de Sevilla 


Walking 

Walking is an ideal way of 

coming in contact with 

nature. There are routes 

for all ages and different degrees of 

difficulty. The inland nature parks 

and the nature reserves have very 

attractive itineraries. Walking as 

well as cycling is more and more 

popular along some of the ancient 

train lines no longer in use. 

Rights of way have been recovered, 

there are riverbeds and extensive 

sand dunes near the beaches, all 

excellent walking, like the area 

surrounding the Doñana 

National Park, 

or through the 

marshes at the 

estuary of the 

Guadalquivir 

river. In Málaga 

there are 

marked walks 

through the 

Torcal in Antequera 

and the 

ancient routes 

through villages in 

the Axarquía in the province 

of Málaga, like the 

ones that leaves Torrox, 

down to Frigiliana and on 

to Nerja and then ascends up the 

river Chillar. 

Sierra Nevada (Granada) 

In Cazorla there is the famous track 

named after Félix Rodríguez de la 

Fuente, in honour of this eminent 

naturalist, along 16 kilometres 

through beautiful countryside. There 

are also routes in the Alpujarra 

in Granada, “white trekking” with 

snow shoes. 

In fact, Andalucía offers a wide 

network of routes in its promotions 

of inland areas through exuberant 

and attractive landscapes that put 

you in contact with the flora in the 

mountain villages or the varied fauna 

that lives in the mountains and 

nature parks. 

Mountaineering 

Andalusia is very mountainous and 

home to the highest peaks 

on mainland Spain, Mulhacén 

and el Veleta 

in Sierra Nevada in 

Granada. There is 

an excellent network 

of parador 

hotels, youth 

hostels, mountain 

shelters 

and places where 

you can camp wild 

in the mountains, 

mythical places like 

the Sierra Morena, the 

Bética mountain chain, 

Cazorla, Segura y Las 

Villas, the mountains of 

Grazalema in Cádiz and Los Alcornocales, 

not forgetting the Picos 

de Aroche and Sierra de Aracena 

in Huelva. As well as the Sierra de 

Filabres in Tabernas (Almería) or the 

Gaitanes Gorge (Málaga) where as 

well as mountaineering there are 

ideal crags for rock climbing. 

JUANPOL.COM 

ARCHIVE 


Action Tourism 


Río Borosa. Cazorla (Jaén) 


Horse trekking 

The horse is always 

present in the history 

and culture of Andalucía 

and it is a symbol that 

identifies Andalusia. The 

horse has played a main role 

in historic feats and it is an 

important sports and leisure 

complement today. The 

horse offers several holiday 

options and discovering 

them in the heart of nature 

is one of the passionate 

tourist offers in Andalucía. 

Many of the fairs and romería 

type pilgrimages that 

are celebrated in Andalucía 

include the horse as one of 

the primordial elements. 

There is a simple option and 

perhaps one of the most 

gratifying: to go on a horse 

trek; that is ride through 

nature areas on a few days’ 

trek to discover the provocative 

beauty, visit villages 

where the pace of life is 

slow like in times gone by 

and experience traditions 

that help you to get to know 

Andalusia. You can also take 

riding lessons. There are 

many Andalusian cortijos 

type farms converted into 

rural accommodation the 

offer the chance of spending 

a few days with monitors 

showing you how to ride, it 

is a sport but also an art. 

ARCHIVE 


Intermediate Cities 


Medium-Sized 

Cities in the Centre 

of Andalusia 

Antequera, right in the heart of Andalucía, 

is known as the city of white Gongorine 

churches to use the words of Gerardo 

Diego, a monumental town with outstanding 

monuments like the Alcazaba, the Coll-egiate 

church of Santa María la Mayor, the convent of 

Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and the Giants’ 

Arch. From the Collegiate you can look down on 

the town with its many bell-gable church towers 

cutting the skyline. 

Archidona is not only famous for its plaza 

Ochavada (eighteenth century) but also for its 

rich past when different civilisations and cultures 

settled in the town, thanks to its privileged 

geographic position. Declared a Artistic Historic 

Complez, its Punic-Roman castle stands out 

among its monuments, converted 

into the Sanctuary of Our 

Lady of Grace, together 

with the Santo Domingo 

convent from the 

sixteenth century and 

the convent of Jesús 

and Mary from the 

same date. 

Osuna is an artistic, 

historic and monumental 

jewel. Part of 

the Route of Washington 

Irving from the Andalusí Legacy, 

it is a reference point for 


Torcal de Antequera (Málaga) 

ARCHIVE

Alcazaba. Antequera (Málaga) 

TREVORD HUXHAM 




The Medium-Sized C 

importa 

Andalusian baroque with its civil buildings 

in the San Pedro street and dominated the 

town, the Collegiate and the University. 

There are important churches and convents 

on the route through the town, like the palace 

of the Dukes of Osuna. 

Écija, known as the city of the sun and the 

City of Towers. Its greatest splendour dates 

from Roman times. There are two routes 

through this town for you to discover its 

personality. One is the route of the Towers 

and the Palaces and the other is the route 

of the Bell-gable Towers with the eleven 

towers that crown the roofs of Écija. A visit 

to the museum is well worth while because 

of the valuable Roman exhibits. 

The origins of Carmona is Carthaginian and 

in Roman times it was one of the main places 

in the countryside of Seville; in times of 

al-Ándalus it was the capital of the principality, 

it is logical consequently that its monumental 

and cultural offer is linked to this 

rich past. We have Roman Carmona with its 

necropolis; the medieval town in 

andalusí style that mixed with 

Christian elements and the 

strong presence of the 

baroque touches in its 

churches and palaces. 

Loja in the province of 

Granada with the river 

Genil as the inseparable 

companion of its 

history, the water that 

flows from the springs 

here is one of its marks of 

identification, together with 


Carmona (Sevilla) 

ARCHIVO

ities in the Centre of Andalusia have played an 

nt role in the history of this region 

Osuna (Sevilla). 

ARTEALIA 




This part of inland A 

great artisti 


Loja (Granada)

ndalusia is home to numerous monuments of 

c value in the six medium-sized cities 

monuments like La Alcazaba, 

the church of the Encarnación 

with its octagonal 

tower or the church of San 

Gabriel, one of the most interesting 

works from Andalusian 

Renaissance. 

Alcalá la Real is situated 

in the Sierra Sur in Jaén, its 

strategic value was the key 

for different civilis-ations 

that settled here. Its La 

Mota fort, dating back to 

Moorish times, is its main 

monument; it is being restored 

at present. 

Baeza is a World Heritage 

Site with its extraordinary 

Renaissance heritage in 

every street and square. It 

was founded by the Romans 

and made into a stronghold 

by the Moors. Baeza 

has monuments of a great 

attraction like the Cathedral, 

the Jabalquinto palace, the 

plaza del Pópulo and the 

church of the Santa Cruz. 

Úbeda is also a world Heritage 

Site. Renaissance par 

excellence with outstanding 

examples like the chapel of 

the Salvador, the church of 

Santa María de los Reales 

Alcázares and the Condestable 

Dávalos in the plaza 

Vázquez de Molina, one of 

the most beautiful in Spain. 

ARCHIVE 


Gastronomy 


Le porc ibérique. Valle de los Pedroches (Córdoba) 


The Iberian ham 

JAVIER 

Pata Negra literally 

means black hoof and 

refer to the ham from 

Jabugo from acorn fattened 

pigs. The Iberian ham is the 

ambassador of andalusien 

gastronomy, in the same 

way caviar is for Russia or 

Iran and foie gras for France. 

This “pata negra” ham is 

produced in the province of 

Huelva more than anywhere 

else and it has been granted 

the Denominación de Origen 

, the prestigious classification 

awarded to food and 

wine from designated regions, 

some is also produced 

in Los Pedroches (Córdoba), 

Serranía de Ronda (Málaga), 

the Sierra Norte in Seville 

and in the mountains of Cádiz–. 

In Trevélez, the highest 

village in Spain, perched on 

the heights of Sierra Nevada, 

they produce another 

kind of ham and because it 

is also of the best quality, it 

has also earned the Denominación 

de Origen. 

All the mountain areas in 

Andalucía make pork products 

like pork loin, chorizo, 

black pudding, scraps as 

well as hams. 

We recommend reading 

the publication 03. The 

Route of Iberian Ham 


Once you set foot in Andalusia, 

you are no longer just you. You become 

Your Andalusia 

andalucia.org

Ecotourism 04. Inland Andalusia

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