White Towns of Andalusia

Olvera

Vejer de la Frontera

Typical house in the province of Granada.

The White Towns of Andalusia, or Pueblos Blancos, are a series of towns and large villages in the northern part of the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga in southern Spain, mostly within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.

All of the villages are characterised by whitewashed walls and red or brown tiled roofs.

History

The area has been settled since prehistoric times, and some of the local caves have ancient rock paintings. The towns were previously inhabited during Al Andalus, as is evident from many of the names.

The reasons for the white color has been postulated to be a chemical result of the limestone used, or a political mandate by a 20th-century dictator.

Climate

The climate is mild and the surrounding countryside is green and pleasant. Tourist activities available include hiking, rock-climbing, pot-holing, cycling, horseback riding, and just ambling about, enjoying nature and the local food.

Villages

Zahara de la Sierra by sunset

The main towns, villages and other interesting places to visit include:

• Zahara de la Sierra - next to a reservoir - typical Cádiz town
• Garganta Verde and Ermita de la Garganta - caves with stalactites and stalagmites
• Puerto de las Palomas - splendid views
• Grazalema - one of the main towns
• Villaluenga del Rosario - highest of the White Towns and one of the prettiest
• Benaocaz - an Arab town with remains of a fortress
• Ubrique - largest of the White Towns
• Benamahoma - contains the Fuente de Nacimiento of Majaceite river
• El Bosque - trout fishing and hang gliding from here
• Prado del Rey - a more modern village
• Puerto Serrano - nice quiet town
• Algodonales - 16th-century town with some Roman ruins
• El Gastor - Balcón de los Pueblos Blancos with an interesting church
• Setenil de las Bodegas - village built into the rocks - Arab fortress
• Alcalá del Valle - pretty town - megalithic standing stones nearby
• Torre Alhaquime - good holiday village
• Olvera - main town of the area
• Arcos de la Frontera - perched on a cliff - Baroque churches
• Algar - up a mountain road
• Espera - panoramic views
• Bornos and Villamartín - reservoir, Roman ruins
• Vejer de la Frontera
• Frigiliana - musk wine and olive oil

Architecture of Spain Styles Megalithic Gallaeci Iberian Celtiberian Roman Visigothic Asturian Al Andalusian (Emirate and Caliphate, Taifa, Almohad and Nasrid) Mozarabic Repoblación Mudéjar First Romanesque Romanesque Gothic Catalan Gothic Isabelline Gothic Valencian Gothic Cisneros Plateresque Renaissance Purism Herrerian Baroque Neoclassical Modernisme Neo-Mudéjar National catholicism Buildings and structures Roman sites Castles Cathedrals Castros Hórreos Cantabrian defensive towers Royal sites Llotjas Windmills Lighthouses Airports Football stadiums Indoor arenas Museums Tallest buildings and structures Destroyed heritage Other Alqueria Andalusian Patio Andalusian White Towns Aragonese Mudéjar Baserri Cabaña pasiega Casa montañesa Casona montañesa Hacienda Masia Palloza Pazo Spanish garden Architects Spanish Colonial architecture Category