Cúllar is one of the six, beautiful traditional Andalusian villages making up the region of Baza in the Altiplano area within the Granada Province. It is in the north east of the province, in the Hoya de Baza and at a height above sea level of approximately 890 metres. The municipality covers some 400 km2, with approximately 5,500 inhabitants.
One of the very picturesque towns to visit in the Baza region of the Altiplano of Granada is Caniles. In the north of the Granada Province, Caniles is 911 metres above sea level. It sits on the edge of a plateau, between the north face of the Natural Park, Sierra de Baza and La Hoya de Guadix.
Situated in the north of the Granada Province, the exceptionally beautiful village of Benamaurel is in the Baza region of the Altiplano of Granada. The village sits at a height of 723 metres above sea level and covers an overall area of some 130 Km2. The municipality of Benamaurel is spread over a series of gullies, split into the village of Benamaurel and its surrounding hamlets.
It's best to start off at the museum, for an introduction to the area and its rich cultural and geological history. Housed in the former British hospital, the museum displays models, documents, rock samples, artefacts and actual machinery, tracing the long history of the Rio Tinto mines.
The Rio Tinto railway was built in 1875 and consited of 300km of narrow gauge track (1067mm) to various points in the mining complex. The 84km line down to and ending at the Muelle de Rio Tinto in Huelva. It had eight bridges, five tunnels and 12 stations, providing transport to miners and the general public.
El Museo del Mundo Marino (Marine World Museum) at Matalascañas on the stunning Huelva coastline is situated in the heart of Parque Dunar (Sand Dune Park) in an incredible landscape dominated by sand dunes and pine groves. The museum building is emblematic of the Park and inside you can see a model on display of the plans afoot for the not-too-distant future projects afoot in Parque Dunar.
This is the mine which is open to visitors. It is10 km from Minas de Rio Tinto village - you drive in convoy leaving from the mining museum, following your guide in his vehicle (it's too complicated to explain on a map).
Casa Number 21 is a three-storey villa built in 1885, that was carefully restored in 2013 to show how a British family would have lived in late-Victorian Andalucia, complete with furniture, toys, jars of food and other domestic accoutrements. Its owner was a middle-ranking engineer, and his children, who lived there, helped advise on its decoration for the period restoration.
Alcalá la Real is a delightful little town with an impressive fortress, once a strategic stronghold during medieval times and subsequently occupied by the Moors in 713. It has about 21,700 inhabitants.
Cazorla is steeped in tradition. Its origins stretch back six centuries before Christ, although it was officially founded by the Romans, who named it Carcesa. Its splendour grew under Moorish and then Christian control.
The town of Rota has many small bars and cafés where you can enjoy a snack and drink. The area around the Puerto Deportivo is especially popular with both residents and visitors in the summer months.
The old medieval town of Rota has some fine monuments that visitors should make time to see. The Castillo de Luna is in calle Cuna, 2. This magnificent building is the official emblem of the town. It also houses the town hall and tourist office. It was erected on the remains of a Moorish castle after the Christian conquest of the town in the 13th century.
There are a number of summer cultural festivals in Rota which are based on the Castillo de Luna. These include flamenco, classical music and theatrical events. In August there is a week of professional theatre plus the 'Arranque de Roteño' a flamenco singing and dancing extravaganza during which those attending savour the typical Rota culinary dish which gives its name to the event.
If you are considering visiting Rota you may find our maps a useful tool, we provide three maps, one of the region of Andalucia with Rota highlighted. The second handcrafted map gives the location of Rota with the corresponding local road network. In order to help our readers we have also embedded a Google map which is centered on Rota.
If you like sport then you'll be pleased to know that Rota offers year-round facilities and competitions in football, swimming, sailing, fishing, beach volleyball, volleyball, basketball, windsurfing and athletics.
Baelo Claudia, near Tarifa, is one of Andalucia´s most significant and well-preserved Roman archeological sites. The extensive ruins are situated on the Costa de la Luz, some 15km north of Tarifa, by the small town of Bolonia and its beautiful beach. The site´s important history rests on the former city having been a strategic point for trade routes between Europe and North Africa.
Park the car on the highest floor of the underground car park under the Paseo de Andalucia at the entrance to the town. There is also a lower entrance to the car park on the Avenida Duque de Arcos which follows the river at the bottom of the escarpment.
Many hotel rooms in Arcos have magnificent views; some of the best are rooms and terrace from the Parador and the rooftop terrace at La Casa Grande. Hotels in the old town offer a magnificent location for walking around and taking in the village atmosphere, however parking can be challenging. There is limited parking in Plaza del Cabildo, or better at in the underground car park, at the entrance of the old town near Plaza de Espana access from Paseo de Andalucia.
A selection of the main sites in Arcos de la frontera. Many are included in a Ruta Monumental (Monuments Route). Pick up a leaflet at the tourist office.
During its famous Semana Santa celebrations, the Toro de Aleluya, two bulls (toros) charge through the streets of the old town on Easter Sunday. In early August is the Fiesta de la Virgen de las Nieves, with flamenco and other live music in the Plaza del Cabildo.
