The picturesque village of Zahara de la Sierra © Michelle Chaplow |
|
Zahara de la Sierra
by Chris Chaplow
The white village of Zahara de la Sierra has one of the most stunning settings in the province of Cadiz, if not the whole of Andalucia.
As you drive on the A382 road, which links Arcos de la Frontera with Antequera, or the A376 from Seville to Ronda, you see a castle built on a rocky peak high above the turquoise waters of a lake. Scattered below it are the whitewashed houses of Zahara de la Sierra (not to be confused with the fishing town of Zahara de los Atunes, on the Costa de la Luz north of Tarifa).
The town, with land covering a total of over 70 km2, is built on the sides of the hill whose height ranges between 300m and 1100m. The name of the town, which has about 1500 inhabitants, known as 'Zahareños', probably comes from the Arab word sahra meaning desert.
THINGS TO SEE
The Plaza Mayor is Zahara's main focus and heart, and a pretty place to stop in a bar to watch the world go by. Around the square are the Church of Santa María de la Meza, tourist office, Town Hall, souvenir shop, mirador (viewing spot) terrace bar, and the actual mirador which offers splendid views over the reservoir, the countryside and across to the village of Olvera in the distance. Don't miss the stone fountain in the centre - a water trough with a central street light. Read about the Church of Santa María de la Meza, Tourist Office, Puerta de la Villa (Town Gate), Castle, Iglesia Major, Torre del Homenaje, Chapel of San Juan de Letran, and the fountains on the Things to see page>
WHERE TO PARK
You can park the car on the main road at the bottom of the village and walk up or is possible to drive into the village. There is a well.-organized one way system so that you enter the village by following signs for the centre, pass along Calle Ronda. Go carefully at lunchtime as the road is narrowed by the restaurants' terraces spilling onto the road. You enter the main square which is the focus point. If no parking is available, drop off the passengers and drive out on Castillo Mazarin, through the abutments of 'Arco de la Villa' and there is a car park on the roof of Hotel Arco de la Villa, or continue to park just beyond and walk back to the square.
Ouside Village
Reservoir - Embalse de Zahara - el Gastor.
The reservoir, which is relatively new, has made the town even more popular with visitors, who now have the option of water sports and swimming, sports which didn't exist 10 years ago in Zahara. Just below the town is an area to park the car and walk by the reservoir. You can hire Kayaks to go out on the lake. Also Molino "El Vinculo", Area Recretiva Arroyomolinos, La Garganta Verde, Cueva de la Ermita. Outside the village page>
NATURAL AREAS
Grazalema Natural Park is adjacent to the village. More>
HISTORY
Zahara was once described by the romantic British traveller Richard Ford, as a "Moorish eagle's nest - the castle (and town) date back to Moorish times. It was an ideal place to build a fortification located between Sevilla and Ronda and the earliest documented reference dates to 1282. More>
Handicrafts
Local crafts focus on leather goods and saddlery; nearby Ubrique is the most famous town for producing these goods in the area. These traditional practices have remained constant over the centuries, thanks to the town's continuing livestock tradition.
GASTRONOMY
Tomato and asparagus soups are popular local dishes, and pastries such as cream puffs, known as cuernos (horns), are also part of the local gastronomy.
Festivals
The famous Zahara de la Sierra festival of Corpus Christi dates back to 1500 and has been declared to be of National Tourist Interest. The people of Zahara dress up the fronts of the village houses and street with branches and rushes, making the whole place town as if it were part of the countryside. The work starts at 04.30 on the Sunday morning and all is ready by 08.30 hrs. At 10.00 a Sunday Mass is held in Santa Maria de la Mesa church following which there is a procession around the village. At 14.00 the festival begins in the 'Caseta Municipal' with entertainment form a local dance band followed by a DJ in the evening.
BUS TIMETABLE
Comes runs a bus service from Ronda to Cadiz which stops at Zahara de la Sierra. it may be necessary to change bus at Puerto Serrano. See Comes timetable.
Hotels
Book Hotels in Zahara de la Sierra
NEXT VILLAGES
Nearby villages are Montecorto, Algodonales, Grazalema, El Gastor
Walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts
Buy walking guide books by Guy Hunter Watts
"Walking in Andalucia" by Guy Hunter Watts
Walking in Andalucía is a 260 page full colour guide to some of the very best walks in southern Spain, taking the walker on 34 routes - all starting and most finishing in beautiful villages - in the Natural Parks of Grazalema, La Alpujarra, Cazorla, Los Alcornocales, Aracena, and La Axarquia. Many of the full and half day walks are virtually unknown even though they are a short drive from the Costa del Sol. Even though more and more people are beginning to walk Spain's southern sierras, most of the routes remain blissfully undiscovered. Guy says, 'If you decide to head for the hills with my guide you can be sure of two things: you will be walking through areas of great natural beauty and you will meet with other walkers.'
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking in Andalucia.
"The Andalucian coast to coast walk " by Guy Hunter Watts
A stunning 21 day, 435 kilometre trail that links the Mediterranean with the Atlantic. The walk passes through six of Andalucia's Natural Parks and protected areas via its most beautiful mountain villages. Far more than a long walk, this on-foot odyssey can lead you to the heart of southern Spain's magnificent sierras and on a life-changing journey of discovery. One of the best things about the simple act of walking is the sense of reconnecting with Nature and the Big Wide World. We've been moving around on two feet for a very long time yet still, in the simple act of putting one foot in front of the next and moving across landscape, it seems that we reassert our identity. Day to day worries fall into insignificance, or rather true significance, when we get out into the mountains and walking is about a lot more than taking exercise.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers The Andalucian Coast-to-coast Walk.
"Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema" by Guy Hunter Watts
The dramatically situated town of Ronda can make a great base for a walking holiday in the mountains of Andalucía, as can any one of the picturesque 'pueblos blancos' (white villages) that nestle among the surrounding hills. This guidebook presents 32 mainly circular walks in the Ronda region, covering the town and its environs, the Natural Parks of La Sierra de Grazalema and La Sierra de las Nieves (both UNESCO biosphere reserves), and the Genal and Guadiaro Valleys. Clear route description is illustrated with mapping, and the route summary table and 'at a glance' information boxes make it easy to choose the right walk.
Buy a printed or eBook copy online direct from publishers Walking the Mountains of Ronda and Grazalema.
