September 29, 2015
The Pueblos Blancos (White Villages) of Andalucia are a series of small mountain villages in the northern part of the provinces of Cádiz (and Málaga) in southern Spain, mostly within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
The villages are within 20 kilometers of each other making it possible for us to walk between them, even it it meant a lot of road walking. (We had already been to Arcos de la Frontera from Jerez.)
Map of the White Villages
Olvera POP 8300, ALT 640m
27 – 29 Sep 2015
Olvera - C12th Arab Castle taken by the Christians in 1327 & C19th Church
Olvera is a street, a Church and a Castle ...
... but what a street, what a Church and what a Castle!
Looking down at Olvera from the Church
Nearby Pruna watchtower (13th century) signalled Olvera Castle using mirrors
Old trees near Olvera, whose name is derived from olive
Torta del Lunes, a local cake made with olive oil, flour, spices, sugar & almonds
We really enjoyed a plate of grilled local vegetables for lunch
Setenil de las Bodegas POP 2800, ALT 640m
30 & 31 Sep 2015
Torre-Alháquime, enroute from Olvera to Setenil, had a Moorish Tower
Good thing we took the high road - Setenil de las Bodegas from above
Bar created adding an external wall to the overhanging cave
Had to watch our heads in the bedroom in our cave apartment!
On a walk to Alcala - pigs feeding on acorns; Pata Negra in the making
A regional specialty, soup made from fresh local asparagus
Another local dish - fried goat's cheese with berry jam
El Gastor POP 1800, ALT 600m
01 Oct 2015
Just in case you thought all we did was sit in pretty white villages and eat
An asparagus farm on the way to El Gastor
El Gastor hangs like a white balcony below the mountain
Dolmen of the giant near El Gastor - 9 meters long, 4500 years old
El Gastor geraniums - this is a petty and clean town
Main plaza looks like a good spot for an afternoon vino
Zahara de la Sierra POP 1500, ALT 500m
02 Oct 2015
Its going to be a hard climb from the dam up to Zahara ...
... like this - and the little old ladies walk up to do their shopping
Torre del Homenaje (Arabic, 13th century) above Zahara
Sopa de Picadillo - rice, ham, eggs & bread soup - a staple here
Zahara Dam, created 1991
Church at Zahara, behind the old city wall