EVENT: Walking in the White Peoples of Andalusia and Grazamela Natural Park

DATE OF REALISATION: 1st to 5th October 2022

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 30 APRIL 2022

EVENT DESCRIPTION: "Walking in the White Peoples of Andalusia and Grazamela Natural Park"

In this activity we will walk and visit some of the most fabulous places in Andalusia, including Ronda, Setenil de las Bodegas, Grazalema, Arcos de la Frontera, Bornos, Zahara de la Sierra, Benamahoma and El Bosque. We'll also visit some of the most beautiful spots in the Grazalema Natural Park, a Biosphere Reserve. Come with us!

These will be some of the most important places on our itinerary

- White Towns of Andalusia
- Grazalema Natural Park
- Visit to the Roman Ruins of Italica
- Walks and hikes in various places of great beauty
- Natural landscapes

TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 6.30am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 8.30pm

Visit to the Roman Ruins of Italica (Seville)

The town of Santiponce is home to one of the most important and largest Roman ruins in Spain. The Roman city of Italica demonstrates marvellous examples of Roman architecture, mosaics and urban layouts. The large amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Roman Empire (where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed), had a capacity of 25,000 seats. We can wander through the tunnels where the gladiators would have walked and in the centre of the arena there is an excellent pit that would have been covered by a wooden structure that was used by gladiators and wild animals.

Arcos de la Frontera

The town of Arcos de La Frontera is considered one of the most beautiful on the Pueblos Blancos Route. It forms part of the Roman-Iberian Way. Its Arab neighbourhood is a tangle of narrow, winding streets, tiny squares and whitewashed houses, a real labyrinth that is well worth wandering through.

Points of interest:

- Cabildo Square and the Balcony of Pena Nova
- Abades Viewpoint
- Basilica of St Mary
- Arcos de la Frontera Castle
- St Peter's Church
- Guadalete riverfront area

Note: In Arcos de La Frontera we will take a walk of approximately 8 kilometres.

Bornos

Bornos is a town on a hillside overlooking the Bornos reservoir, where the River Guadalete flows, and has been declared a Historic Site. In the centre of the town you'll find majestic houses with small, well-kept gardens. The urban layout revolves around its monumental jewel, the Palacio de la Ribeira, which has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. The Palace Gardens are also worth a visit, as is the sports and leisure area next to the Albufeira.

Points of interest:

- Ribeira Castle Palace
- Palace Gardens
- Church of Santo Domingo
- Alcaide Joze González Square
- Leisure area of the reservoir

Note: In Bornos, next to the reservoir, we will take a walk of approximately 9 kilometres.

El Bosque

In the heart of the Sierra de Albarracín, El Bosque is surrounded by valleys and nestled between leafy forests full of medicinal springs. Its architectural legacy is made up of the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the Ducal Palace, the Calvary Chapel and the Bullring. It is known as the gateway to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, a nature reserve with an area of 535 km2. And here we'll take a walk along the course of the Majaceite river, which will also allow us to visit part of Benamahoma, another white people of Andalusia.

Points of interest:

- Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Doge's Palace
- Majaceite River, waterfalls, etc.
- Leisure areas along the river

Note: In El Bosque, we will hike along the Majaceite River, approximately 13 kilometres long.

Ronda

In the heart of Andalusia there is a pearl hidden in a sea of limestone landscapes. It's called Ronda. Almost hanging from a rocky promontory, the city is separated into two parts by the "Cannon of El Tajo", a limestone gorge where the river Guadalevín flows through, the old part and the new part. In the old part, it's worth wandering around a few streets, where you'll find the Mondragón Palace, the Palace of the Marquis of Salvatierra, the Moorish King's house (Casa del Rey Moro) or the Mother Church. In the modern part, the Parador Nacional de Ronda viewpoint stands out, as does the Alameda del Tajo park, both with breathtaking views.

Points of interest:

- Viewpoints
- Ronda's old town

Note: In Ronda, we will take a walk, approximately 6 kilometres long.

Grazalema

It is the highest and most mountainous municipality in the province of Cádiz, as well as the rainiest on the Iberian Peninsula. Its entire territory is part of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, so today it is a tourist enclave linked to the splendour of the natural environment that surrounds it. Its historic centre has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. Its urban centre - alleys, small squares, nooks and spectacular viewpoints over the mountains - stands out. Very well preserved and restored, it won the "National Tourism Award for the Beautification and Improvement of Spanish Towns". It is one of the best examples of the so-called White Towns of Andalusia.

Points of interest:

- Church of Our Lady of Dawn
- El Santo Viewpoint
- Serra de Endrinal and Ermida do Calvário
- Snow wells
- Source of the Guadalete River
- Boyar Viewpoint
- Views over the Sierra del Pinar and the coast to Cádiz

Note: In Grazalema, we will hike approximately 12 kilometres.

Zahara de la Sierra

The town of Zahara is located in the Jaral Mountains within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It was founded in Muslim times. The doors of the houses are minimal and their windows have bars that often go all the way to the ground. The white, vertical face of Zahara de La Sierras is reflected in the turquoise waters of the reservoir that bears her name. The hills and whitewashed houses in the spring are a direct legacy of its Arab past.

Points of interest:

- Castle
- Baroque Church of Santa María de la Mesa (18th century)
- Clock Tower
- Chapel of San Juan de Letrán
- Viewpoints
- Views over the Zahara Reservoir

Note: In Zahara de la Sierra, we will take a walk of approximately 4 kilometres.

Setenil de Las Bodegas

The term "Bodegas" added to the town's name harks back to its winemaking past, with the region producing wines until 1860, when a plague destroyed the vineyards. Today the town lives mainly from the production of almonds and olives. This is one of the most curious towns on the Pueblos Blancos Route. What sets it apart from the other white villages is that most of its houses have been "built" under a volcanic rock overhang. The streets to the right of the river are known as "calle del sol" and to the left, "calle de la sombra", because only one side receives the sun's rays.

Setenil still has a special beauty. Its streets are its main attraction. The urban layout that descends from the Nazarí Castle or Fortress of Stenil moulds itself to the rugged terrain, with houses on or under the rocks, creating a spectacular mosaic in which caves, streets at different heights and numerous beautiful nooks and crannies appear. The town's highlights are the cave houses located mostly in the streets of Cuevas del Sol, Cuevas de la Sombra, Calle Mina, Calle Herrería, Calle Jabonería, Calle Cabreriza, Calle Triana and Cuevas de San Román.

Points of interest:

- Castle
- Tower and Museum
- Andalusia Square
- Cuevas (shade and sun)
- Viewpoints

Note: In Setenil, we will take a walk, approximately 5 kilometres long.

Equipment: Footwear and clothing suitable for hiking

Registration fee:

Price includes:

- Bus transport from Lisbon to each of the locations described above
- Transport to the locations of each walk and accommodation
- 2 nights' accommodation in a 3-star hotel, breakfast included
- 2 nights' accommodation in a 4-star hotel, breakfast included
- The proposed accommodation option includes various room types
- Guided Walks
- Compulsory insurance

430€ (Price per person in double room)
550€ (Price per person in single room)
Entry fee for seat reservation: 100€

Prices valid until the end of April 2022. From April onwards the prices are 455€ and 575€ respectively.

Notes: 

a) Registrations are limited and accommodation options are limited to availability at the time of booking.

b) If you have a group interested in this trip, contact us, we have personalised solutions.