Description
Itinerary through the mountainous regions Sierra de Grazalema, Serranía de Ronda and Los Alcornocales. Can be easily combined with visits to Cádiz, Sevilla and Málaga or with beach holidays on the Costa de la Luz  or the Costa del Sol. Possible excursions to the Nature Site El Torcal (Antequera) or to the rock of Gibraltar.

The white villages owe their name to the way their residents often scatter lime on the walls of their houses. These seem to be inserted like bird nests into the mountains and are usually adorned by a castle. Red tile roofs and narrow streets complete the appearance of a typical "pueblo blanco".

Itinerary
From Arcos to Ronda and Castellar de la Frontera.

Time needed
2 or 3 days. Towns as Ronda and Arcos de la Frontera even permit some extra time

Distance
approx. 300 kilometers/185 miles

Best travel season
Spring/Early Summer (March until June) and Autumn (September until November); possible even during the Winter (February).

Landscape an protected areas
The most of the described white villages are situated in the western part of the Bética ranges. The highest elevation is the Pico de Pinar (1654 meters) close to the village of Grazalema, the number one rainy region of all Spain. On the other hand, the Serranía de Ronda, just a few miles east of Grazalema, has a dry climate. Cork and holm oaks and the very rare Spanish fir ("Pinsapo") grow in the forest. In the west, close to Arco de la Frontera, predominates farm land.

Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
With 51.695 hectares one of the bigger natural parks of Andalusia with a rich flora and fauna. 13 villages lie on the territory. (Information centre El Bosque)

Los Alcornocales Natural Park
Territory of 170.025 hectares with 15 villages. Belong to the provinces of Málaga and Cádiz. As seen in its name, the main growing tree is the cork oak.

Tourist information

Accommodation

Many hotels and hostelries along the route, especially in Arcos de la Frontera and in Ronda. Also many campsites and some country houses (rustic apartments).

Activities

Feasts/Festivals

Patron Saint Feasts / Ferias

almost each town celebrates its own patron saint, a procession and/or its "feria" (fair).

Pilgrimages - "Romerías"

Others

Arcos de la Frontera (Miles 0;
31,210 Inhabitants)
Situated on a mountain range 160 meters high above the Guadalete river. One of the most beautiful villages of Andalusia.

Espera (Miles 10; 4,000 Inhabitants)
very old settlement with an Arab castle and the Santa María de Gracia Church.

Bornos (Miles 15; 8,130 Inhabitants)
Castle del Fontanal, Fortified castle de los Rivera; Santo Domingo de Guzmán church; Convent of Corpus Christi.

Villamartín (Miles 21; 12,530 Inhabitants)
Agriculture village. Churches: San Francisco, de las Angustias and de las Virtudes; Noble mansion de los Topete;
On the way to Prado del Rey: Ruins of Parajete.

Prado del Rey (Miles 28; 5,960 Inhabitants)
Nuestra Señora del Carmen church;
2,5 miles away: Roman ruins "Iptuci".

El Bosque (Miles 32; 2,100 Inhabitants)
Entrance to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, situated in a beautiful landscape. Santa María de Guadalupe Church
Excursion to Benamahoma (4 miles): groves of Spanish fir.

Ubrique (Miles 42; 16,980 Inhabitants)
Phoenician foundation. Churches: San Antonio, San Pedro, Nuestra  Señora de la O; Monastery de Capuchinos (Franciscan monks).

Benaocaz (Miles 45; 730 Inhabitants)
Baroque town hall, Renaissance church.

Villaluenga del Rosario (Miles 48,5;
475 Inhabitants)
San Miguel church, bullring built in the mountain rocks.

Grazalema (Miles 56; 2,200 Inhabitants)
Centre of the Natural Park. Nuestra Señora de la Aurora church; Textile museum Artesanía Textil.

The Natural Park  Sierra de Grazalema and its 13 villages

On the road to Zahara: mountain pass Puerto de las Palomas (1357 m/4452 ft.), Hiking paths to "El Pinsapar" (Spanish fir forest) and to "la Garganta Verde" (cave).

Zahara de la Sierra (Miles 65;
1,510 Inhabitants)
Moorish foundation, located on a mountainside.
Remains of an ancient castle, Santa María de la Mesa church.

Algodonales (Miles 70; 5,730 Inhabitants)
Olive groves and fields of vegetables close to the Sierra de Líjar. Baroque church of Santa Ana with a tower and its door called puerta del Perdón.

Olvera (Miles 82; 8,590 Inhabitants)
well conserved Arab fortress in between wooded hills; Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church.
Towards Ronda (1,4 miles): Pilgrimage church Virgen de los Remedios in Baroque style.

Setenil de las Bodegas (Km 91;
2,980 Inhabitants)
Cave houses inside the rocks overhead the river. Fortified castle; Gothic church de la Encarnación.

Ronda (Miles 103; 36,830 Inhabitants)
Jewel of Andalusia and main town of the Serranía de Ronda Region. Invites a longer stay.

Benaoján (Miles 108; 1,600 Inhabitants)
of main interests are the nearby caves "Cueva de la Pileta" and "Cueva del Gato" with pictorial records of its residents (Paleolithic).

Montejaque (Miles 110; 1,000 Inhabitants)
the Guadares river disappears in the "El Hundidero" cave to appear again in the "Cueva del Gato" cave.

Jimera de Líbar (Miles 117;
450 Inhabitants)
Roman-Moorish castle.

Atajate (Miles 122; 130 Inhabitants)
very old settlement from the pre-historic epoch. Moorish tower

Benadalid (Miles 126; 260 Inhabitants)
has the oldest fortress of the region

Algatocín (Miles 129; 910 Inhabitants)
Roman ruins

Gaucín (Miles 135; 1,930 Inhabitants)
Good view point; Remains of a fort; Renaissance church; convent church in Baroque style;
In the surroundings: "Cueva del Órgano".

Casares (Miles 145; 4,990 Inhabitants)
founded by the Romans in the time of Julius Caesar. Centre of the village in Moorish style. Ruins of an Moorish castle; churches: de la Encarnación and San Sebastián; archaeological excavations.

Jimena de la Frontera (Miles 169;
10,430 Inhabitants)
situated in the beautiful los Alcornocales Natural Park underneath the ancient castle. Restored Gothic church la Misericordia; Pilgrimage church Reina de los Ángeles.
Nearby: "La Laja Alta" cave

Castellar de la Frontera (Miles 185;
3,160 Inhabitants)
Moorish fortress village from the 13th century. From here you can see Africa.

What may be visited after or before these plans:

- Costa de la Luz from Cádiz to Tarifa

- Gibraltar
- Costa del Sol/Route of Al-Idrisi
- Seville and the Campiña
- Málaga