The Sierra de las Nieves National Park is located in the hills behind Marbella and to the east of the Ronda-Marbella road as it winds up the mountain along hairpin bends. The park centres on Mount Torrecilla (1909m) and covers an area of 30km by 20km or 18,530 hectares. The Sierra de las Nieves, formerly a natural park, was declared a National Park in January 2021 and formalised in May 2021.
An Andalusian man without his horse is like a matador without a cape. He feels stripped of an essential part of his identity that has been formed over the centuries. It is part of his life, his work, his status, his culture, his earthly possessions... his horse is central to his very being.
The Serranía de Ronda is studded with charming pueblos blancos (white villages) that can be visited by car in a number of delightful day trips. The dramatically positioned town of Ronda, on the Tajo gorge, has become one of the most popular destinations in Andalucia.
Ronda is one of Andalucia's loveliest towns, steeped in history. There is plenty to see beyond the view from the bridge over the plunging gorge which divides the town. Below are the main attractions and things to see in Ronda, and when is best to see them.
Despite being a growing town, Ronda retains much of its historic charm, particularly its old town. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Visitors make a beeline for the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, before taking in the views from the Alameda out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.
Gaucin is a spectacularly beautiful mountain village commanding sweeping views to Gibraltar and North Africa. The village is a gateway to the Serranía de Ronda where, depending on the time of year, you can enjoy an impressionist palette of colour.
Ultra Sierra Nevada is an ultra marathon of 100 kilometres in distance, involving a continuous ascent along paths and tracks from the city of Granada up to the summit of Pico Veleta, followed by a descent to Pradollan, a ski resort in the Sierre Nevada mountain range.
.Seville Marathon, the third largest in Spain, with 14,000 runners taking part. It is traditionally held on the third Sunday in February. The Seville Marathon is usually very fast due to the flat course and (often) good weather. Race record is 2 hrs 04min 43 sec. The XL Zurich Marathon de Sevilla will take place on 23rd February 2025.
.Outside Nueva Castella village and on the edge of the La almoraima estate is the Hotel Casa Convento La Almoraima. The woods that lead up the the historic hotel are open to the public and a car park is provided to explore the woods on a couple of marked forest paths. The hotel which was a convent is constructed around a centra courtyard. ther eis a bar and a restaurant open to the public.
The Andalucia Rally for cars and motorbikes has taken place in May in Andalucia in 2020 and 2021. The Andalucia Rally is the opening event of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country-Rallies.
The Tourist Office is located in the Town Hall of Montecorto, opening from Monday to Friday.
The Festivals in Montecorto are Cabalgata de Reyes Magos, Día de Andalucía, Semana Santa, Romería de Montecorto, San Juan, Feria y Fiestas Virgen del Carmen, Feria de Agosto y Mercado Andalusí.
Montecorto village as a municipal district was formed as recently as October 2014. It had been part of the municipal district of Ronda. Montecorto has about 600 inhabitants. The origins of Montecorto go back to the Neolithic age, when it was associated with small agricultural communities that settled here due to the fertile land, abundance of water, and other important resources such as flint-stone which was used as tools.
The Tourist Office is located in the Town Hall of Serrato, opening from Monday to Friday.
Festivals in Serrato are Cabalgata de Reyes Magos, La Candelaria, Día de Andalucía, Día de Andalucía, Día de la Vieja, Semana Santa, Feria de Octubre and Los Tostones.
Serrato as a municipal district was formed as recently as December 2014. Until then it was part of the municipal district of Ronda. It has about 470 inhabitants.Its origins of Seratto date back to the Neolithic era, when small agricultural communities settled here due to the fertile land and the abundance of water. It was in the Roman and Arab period that it grew in importance, particularly Serrato village, which was a Roman town.
Nearly a fifth of Andalucia is protected, the largest proportion of an autonomous region in Spain, reflecting the unspoilt nature of its countryside and the high ecological importance of its territory. The environment department, the Consejería de Medio Ambiente, of the regional Andalucian government is in charge of overseeing the protected areas.
Andalucía is a birdwatcher's paradise and attracts ornithologists throughout the year. The best time of the year, however, is during the spring, as this is when you can see many wintering species, together with those arriving for the summer months.
"Los Encuentros de Arte del Valle del Genal"is a bi-annual summer art festival which takes place in Genalguacil, near Gaucin in Malaga province. What does the festival consist of? During the festival, which happens in the first two weeks of August in even years, prize-winning works of art created by 'Artists in residence' are displayed in the streets.
The La Almoraima estate in Castellar de la Frontera occupies 14.000 hectares and is one of the largest estates in Spain. Agriculture, Forestry, Cork, Hunting, Tourism are main industries in the estate. A vast quantity of cork is produced from the cork oak trees, quercus suber which are stripped of bark each summer on a seven year rotation. The estate lies within the Parque Natural Los Acornocales.
