White Villages Archives

Zahara de la Sierra Pueblo Blanco in the Grazalema Natural Park

February 19, 2025 by Clive Muir

Nestled under the mountain that gives the village its name, Zahara de la Sierra is one of the pueblos blancos of Cadiz province, and is only 30 minutes drive from Ronda, or an hour from Jerez de la Frontera. Completely within the Grazalema Natural Park, and with the district’s largest lake at its base, as well as the beginnings of the Garganta Verde walk just outside the village, Zahara is rightly quite central to experiencing the Sierra de Cadiz.

Listen to our podcast about Zahara de la Sierra

Zahara de la Sierra, a pueblo blanco in Cadiz, Spain, is the focus of this descriptive podcast.

Clive Muir

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!

rondatoday.com/

The White Villages (Pueblos Blancos)

January 15, 2025 by Clive Muir

If you are staying in Ronda for a few days and have a car then you will surely want to get out and about to explore more villages in the area. The White Villages (Pueblos Blancos) encompass the north east of Cádiz and north west of Málaga provinces and this area is saturated in history with palaeolithic cave paintings, neolithic dolmens, bronze and copper age remains, Roman roads, Visigoth fountains and Moorish towers.

White village tours from Ronda — Grazalema on the route of the white villages.

Clive Muir

rondatoday.com/

History of Grazalema Village in the Sierra de Cádiz

June 24, 2024 by Clive Muir

Almost every visitor to Ronda will hear about the beauty of the nearby village called Grazalema. The village is located within the western reaches of the Sierra de Cadiz that also includes the villages of El Bosque, Zahara de la Sierra, Algodonales, and Olvera, and is the north-eastern tip of Cadiz province.

Grazalema is one of the famous white villages of Andalucia, considered by many to be amongst the most beautiful, and given that it is broadly in the centre of its namesake, the Grazalema Natural Park which is equally as famous, it is hardly any wonder the village has such a reputation.

Clive Muir

rondatoday.com/

Gaucin in the Genal Valley

July 30, 2023 by Clive Muir

Often described as one of the prettiest white villages, there is no denying that Gaucin, biggest of the Genal Valley villages is beautiful, and so too are the people who welcome strangers with open arms.

El Bosque Botanical Gardens

January 18, 2022 by Clive Muir

Within the Serrania we are lucky enough to have three natural parks, (Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves, and Alcornocales). El Bosque Botanical Gardens in the village El Bosque is a small botanical garden called “El Castillejo” and it is devoted exclusively to the local and endemic plant species of these mountains.

Due to the Serrania being both Mediterranean and European, many of the tree species are common throughout Europe, whilst most of the shrubs are generally Mediterranean. Most of the flowers and grasses are either Mediterranean or endemic to the area.

Your stroll will take you through several mini ecosystems, each with their own viewing area to sit and appreciate the surroundings.

Why not reserve a hotel in the village?

Clive Muir

rondatoday.com/