 Covering the northern area of the Huelva province, the Sierra de Aracena are low, forested mountains scattered with traditional villages. The national park of Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche consists of beautiful, rugged and remote countryside, forests of chestnut and cork oak, crossed with paths and teaming with wildlife, which make it excellent walking country. The border with Portugal to the west of the area has been instrumental in shaping the history of the region and the vestiges of this can be seen in the surviving castle ruins which are abundant in the Sierra de Aracena. The oak forests are used to rear free-range Iberian pigs and the hams produced in the region are famous throughout Spain. The main town of Aracena, with its majestic castle and famous cave, is surrounded by numerous quaint and rustic white villages, unspoilt by the modern world. Undiscovered by foreign visitors until recently, the area is becoming popular with those keen on rural tourism and with visitors from the city of Seville.
This beautiful and unspoilt region is a perfect destination for anyone who enjoys out door life and activities with a wealth of flora and fauna, trekking, horse riding and cycling tours.
 Aracena is the main town of the Sierra de Aracena. A quiet, sleepy town set in beautiful surroundings, Aracena seems undisturbed by the few tourist buses that stop by here in the summer months. The town is characterised by its bare hill on which stands its fine 13th century castle as well as the excellent medieval church of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. The church is striking for its ornamented Moorish tower and there is a lovely 16th century gateway through which one must pass when following the track up to the church from the town. The main square of the town on which the Casino stands is an attractive, animated place. Tourists come to Aracena to see the Gruta de las Maravillas, a cave located to the east of the town centre. The cave is an impressive sight, it reaches far beneath the ground to the hill on which the castle stands and contains underground lakes and a display of stalagmites and stalactites lit by artificial light. The cave has been used as a set for a number of films, including Journey to the Centre of the Earth. There are a number of shops, supermarkets and services in Aracena.
In the attractive area surrounding Aracena are a number of lovely villages situated in the wooded countryside. These traditional villages tend to have pretty wooden beamed houses with flower bedecked balconies and cobbled streets. Steeped in history and surrounded by the cork and chestnut forests each village has its own traditions and unique story to tell. This is a beautiful and relatively undeveloped area where you can really experience Spains traditional values and charm.
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