For those with a Marbella holiday home at the beautiful Costa del Sol there’s never a dull moment. Marbella is well connected by road and train, offering tourists a wealth of attractions within a fairly short drive. If you’re looking for a weekend away from the beach, head out into the mountains where traditional white-washed houses cling to craggy hillsides and the “real” Spain begins.
A couple of days will be sufficient for a trip to ancient Ronda, Guacin and Jimena de la Frontera, but if you want to add hiking in the hill trails of Zahara de la Sierra, Grazalema and Ubrique, you’ll need to make it a four-day adventure.
Here are some highlights:
Gaucin
Picturesque Guacin in the Sierra del Hacho can be reached via the A369 and A377 routes. A typical rural hill town with white-washed houses, their red pan tile roofs baking in the mid-day heat; Guacin is a perfect destination for nature lovers and history buffs. Sitting more than 600m or 2,000 ft above sea level in the Sierrania, the little town offers visitors lovely views over the Mediterranean, the Rock of Gibraltar, Rif mountains of North Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.
The town rose to importance early, during Roman times, thanks to its strategic location. The ancient Romans built the Castillo del Aguila, or Eagle’s Castle, which was later enlarged by the Moors. Its ruins are still guarding the town. Guacin is a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets that once provided smugglers with a quick get-away into the surrounding hillsides. Today the town is home to many wealthy Brits, who settled in the historic town rather than purchase a home in neighbouring Gibraltar.
Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema
Located along the A372 route, Grazalema is a delightful village at the heart of the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema. Prosperous from the 17th to 19th century due to its textile industry, Grazalema today is a beautiful collection of grand houses and churches that date back to the heady days when the village was called Little Cadiz (Cádiz el Chico) due to its importance to the region. A local initiative has brought back traditional methods of cloth-weaving and blanket-making, adding to the village’s charm.
The natural park owes its verdant vistas to the fact that the area sees some of the highest rainfall in Spain. Surrounded by green hills on all sides, the village is an excellent base for hikers, as there are picturesque walking trails and horse riding trails going off in all directions. In addition, visitors can enjoy bungee jumping, potholing and abseiling or painting the lush surroundings.
There are a few upmarket hotels and restaurants in Grazalema, which sees tourism mainly from Cadiz and Seville, especially on weekends and in the summer. However, just at the edge of the natural park there are several charming, but inexpensive hotels that offer guests all the comforts they could wish for, with spectacular lake and mountain views thrown in.
Zahara de la Sierra
From Ronda, take the A374 towards Arenal, which sits alongside the A2300 and leads to Zahara de la Sierra. Nestling in the foothills of the mountains, the village features a rather scattered collection of white-washed houses that are being guarded by a hilltop castle. The Moorish castle opens to the public daily and affords spectacular views over the village and an artificial lake that slithers past the foot of the mountain. The village is surrounded by olive groves, and is still involved in the production of olive oil today.
Don’t miss visiting the Torre del Homenaje, a 16th century watchtower, the Molino El Vinculo, a restored olive mill open to the public from Fridays to Sundays, and the lovely Iglesia de Santa Maria de la Meza, which boasts a Baroque altarpiece.
Just outside the village sits a man-made lake, where you can enjoy various water sports. Numerous walking trails lead into the forested hills.
After the tranquillity of the Cadiz province, getting back to bustling Malaga province and Marbella’s golden beaches will feel like a bit of a culture shock. Thankfully, you can explore the mountains again and again, when you own a Marbella holiday home – just pencil it in for your next trip!