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The Route of the White Villages of Cadiz |
 The route of the white villages of Cadiz is surely a "must do" for anyone who enjoys exploring new areas in Spain. Set in some of the most stunning countryside Spain can offer, with each village telling its own unique tale of Spanish history.
The countryside that surrounds the route of the White Villages, the Grazalema natural park, is declared a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO. It is a very unique area and has the highest rainfall in the Iberian peninsula. Grazalema natural park is full of numerous caverns and canyons as amazing as the Garganta Verde (Green Gorge), and it seems unbelievable that this countryside is only just a few kilometres from the coast.
Whitewash is the common denominator of all the villages along the Route that crosses the north of the province of Cadiz through the Sierra de Cadiz mountains. The White Villages Route is a rugged, delightful, green and exciting experience. Stories still survive here about how people lived during the Al-Andaluz period, and the urban layout of the village streets, the economy linked to producing oil, the traditional means of making leather goods and the typical sweets dating back to the Andalusi era are all testament to the wonderful history you will experience whilst travelling this route.
 Towns of the White Villages Route
Arcos de la Frontera
Arcos de la Frontera sits on a 96-metre high peak and has been declared a historic-artistic monument. It is home to numerous mansions and, as is the case in many of these upland towns, churches that were built on the sites of old forts and Moorish mosques.
Bornos
In this town you will find fine examples of aristocratic architecture like the Ribera Palace and the Renaissance garden around the Fontanar Castle. Water is another of the main features of the town with the lake being the perfect setting for fishing, canoeing, rowing and other water sports. In the country, water is also a big feature, as crops expanded notably under the Muslims, they built and installed irrigation systems using waterwheels and irrigation channels.
 Algar
Algar was founded by Domingo López de Carvajal, from El Puerto de Santa Maria , who made his fortune in Mexico and who set up the town thanks to the colonist policy of King Carlos III. Algar sits on the top of a 200 metre high hill and each spring, a large number of motor bike fans gather there to enjoy the hill climb rally up to the town.
Espera and Algodonales
In Espera, you can visit the Roman city of Carissa Aurelia and the Fatetar Castle, together with the parish church of Santa María de Gracia, which was built in the 16th century. The 19th century was noted in the Sierra de Cadiz for the battles against the French troops and the 20th century for the local residents emigrating in search of a better future. Algodonales is one of the gateways to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park and it is, from the Sierra de Lijar, one of the most attractive places for people to enjoy air sports, such as paragliding, hang-gliding and ultralights.
 Villamartín and Puerto Serrano
Before arriving at Algodonales, it is worthwhile visiting one of the oldest megalithic monuments on the Iberian peninsula: the Alberite Dolmen, which is proof of human presence in Villamartin 6,000 years ago. Puerto Serrano is close to Villamartín. It is home to a former railway station where the train never runs, but which has been revived thanks to tourism and the love of hiking, horse riding or cycling. Whilst here it is well worth visiting the "Via Verde"
Zahara de la Sierra
Next to Algondonales you will find Zahara de la Sierra which offers one of the most beautiful views of the White Villages Route from its tower on the highest point of the town looking over the Zahara reservoir.
 Olvera, Torre Alhámquime, El Gastor, Setenil de las Bodegas and Alcalá del Valle are located in the far north-eastern part of the province.
Olvera
This town has been declared a historical-artistic ensemble and is home of the "Frontier and Castles” Museum. The Peñón de Zaframagón, a nature reserve with one of Europe 's most important Griffon vulture colonies, is located within its municipal district.
El Gastor
Here you find the Museum of Popular Customs and Habits, dedicated to José Maria “El Tempranillo”, the most famous bandolero, in what was the house of his fiancée.
 Setenil de las Bodegas
This must truly be one of the most unusual villages in the Sierra de Grazalema natural park and, in fact, the whole of the province of Cadiz, as the houses are built into the rock face of the river gorge. A maze of rock, caves and narrow streets.
Alcalá del Valle
Its history can be traced back to 1484 when 25 Morisco families from Setenil founded the village. It has a Visitors' Centre where you can learn about the way of life and customs of the men that inhabited the area 4,000 years ago, proof of which are the Tomillo dolmens.
Torre Alhaquime
Torre Alháquime is located around a former Nasrid fort, part of whose walls are still preserved. Special mention should be made of the "Souls" painting that is attributed to the Murillo that hangs in the Church of Our Lady of Antigua.
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