Moorish towns and
historical sites
Pueblos Blancos
The Pueblos Blancos village of Gaucin is central for a range of
Andalucia's historical and cultural sites, towns and cities. The whole area is a
treasure trove of Roman and Moorish remains, often located in the most splendid of
settings and many in total seclusion and with open access!
Gaucin is one of many of the region's beautiful 'white villages', each with its own
personality, charm and historical interest.
Ronda
The nearest and one of Andalucia's most impressive towns, lies 45 minutes
north of Gaucin. The architectural, cultural and historic aspects of the town make
visiting essential. It is near enough to Gaucin to make several leisurely visits a
realistic proposition.The photograph is of
the spectacular Ronda Bridge |
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Places to visit: The Almocabar Gate
and the town walls round to the Exhijara Gate into the Jewish Quarter of the old town *
The Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, converted from the town's principal mosque * The
Mondragon Palace * Minaret of San Sebastian * El Tajo Gorge (stand and stare down into the
El Tajo Gorge and at the distant mountains from the top of the New Bridge - Puerte Nuevo *
The House of the Moorish King (visit the Ronda Mine, down to the valley floor) * The
Palace of the Marquis of Salvatierra * The Felipe V Gate * The Old Bridge (Puerte Veijo) *
The Arab Bridge (Perte Arabe) * Arab Baths * The Bullring (Plazo de Toros) of Hemmingway
fame * The Museo Peinado in the Palacio de Moctezuma holds an impressive collection of the
local artist Joaquin Peiando.
Rondo has an amazing number of restaurants,
tapas bars and gift shops, as well as being an important commercial centre for the region.
La Pileta Cave
Situated in the mountainside just off the Cortes de la Frontera to Ronda
road and about 45 minutes from Gaucin via Atajate and Jimena de Libar, lies the Cueva de
la Pileta, with its wealth of Paleolithic and Neolothic cave paintings. An evocative
guided tour, lit only by hand-held gas lights, makes the visit most memorable.
Spectacular groups of stalactite s and stalagmites add to the occasion.
Tarifa
Tarifa, 1 hour 30 minutes from the village, is of considerable interest,
both as a crossing point to Africa (Tangiers being 35 minutes away by hydrofoil) and also
as an old, gated Moorish town with the remains of casbah and castle. It is of course
the most southerly point in Europe and where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.
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Seville
Seville, the romantic capital of Andalucia, lies 2 hours 30 minutes to the
west, and like Cordoba straddles the Quadalquivir River. The heart of the old city
is an architectural delight with spacious parks, streets lined with orange trees and
pleasant river walks.The picture is Giralda
in Seville |
Places to visit: The
Cathedral and Giralda (a mosque converted to a Christian Cathedral) * The Alcazar and
gardens * The Santa Cruz - the intriguing former Jewish Quarter * Torre de Oro * a few km
west of Seville are the Roman remains of Italica - ampitheatre, buildings and streets.
Granada
Lying the the foothills of the Sierra Nevada it is three hours to the
east, although it is dual carriageway most of the way, Granada was the last Moorish city
to fall to the Reconquest and what remains of its Moorish past - the Alhambra, the most
impressive medieval Arab palace in the world. The exquisite architecture of the
palaces and gardens is breathtaking and its beauty is a reflection of the cultural
achievements of Moorish Spain. The Alhambra and Generalife need the minimum of a
day.
The Sacomonte (The Holy Hill) with its Gypsy Caves and the Cathedral in the centre
of the town will need another visit.
Cordoba
Three hours north of Gaucin, once the capital of Islamic Spain and the foremost
city in Europe,
Cordoba is well worth the drive.
Places to visit: The Mosque and
Cathedral - architecturally and aesthetically an absolute must * The Alcazar of the
Christian Kings with its beautiful formal gardens * The Roman Bridge and the Calahorra
Tower * Moorish mills * The triumph Arch of St. Raphael * The Museum of the Spanish artist
- Julio Romero Torres * Seven Km outside Cordoba lies the most impressive Moorish palace
of Medina Azahara.
Additionally all the other small towns and
villages of the region have a wealth of historical and cultural sites of interest which
are well worth visiting. Many are set against the spectacular backdrops of imposing
mountains and deep valleys. Most of these places and sites could be included as part
of a bird watching tour. Prices would be negotiated. See section on Bird Watching and Wildlife.
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