Andalucia, Spain and the allure of the Pueblos Blancos (White Villages)

The most dramatically situated of our 6 Pueblo Blanco’, this stunning hilltop village has been declared a National Historic Monument. Characteristic Moorish architecture sees bright whitewashed houses following a simple cubic form – as well as several exquisite churches. Village buildings are arranged in a semicircle on a hillside at the edge of a precipice, the Parador de Arcos offers sensational views over the green plains below, down to the River Guadalete.

Many consider Grazalema to be THE showcase ‘white village’ in Spain. With a spectacular mountain perch (and lots of bars and restaurants!), Grazalema is a picturesque high-mountain village in Cádiz province. Nestled in a valley within the Parque Natural de Sierra de Grazalema, it completely delivers for those seeking Moorish ambience.

The maze of pedestrian streets leads to homes with colourful potted flowers bursting from windowsills and astounding views of the craggy mountains in the distance. The rugged scenery of limestone mountains, pine forests, oak groves, and epic rivers inspires plenty of outdoor activities include hiking, fishing, and bird-watching.

Salobreña is tucked into a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean on the balmy Costa Tropical. With an impressive micro climate, exotic tropical fruits and sugar cane flourish in the area. Salobreña is a tightly packed collection of whitewashed buildings, presided over by an ancient Moorish castle on the hilltop. Visitors enjoy the charming village ambience and stunning seaside panoramas and walking through its steep and narrow streets, revealing its Arabic history.

Benaocaz is a lovely Moorish, whitewashed village perched on a hilltop in the Sierra de Grazalema natural park. Its oldest part, the Barrio Nazarí, dates all the way back to the 8th century and is typically Arabic in character. Benaocaz has a maze of narrow, winding streets and pedestrian staircases, delivering impressive architecture delights such as the 13th Century Aznalmara Castle. The hilltop hermitage of El Calvario has sweeping views of the countryside and the 16th-century Renaissance architecture of San Pedro Apóstol parish. The area outside of the village has many scenic hiking paths and walking routes, including a trail along the ancient Roman Road.

Perilously clinging to a sheer cliff, Ronda has the emblematic Puente Nuevo crossing with a jaw-dropping 150-meter-deep ravine and offers thrilling views of the dramatic landscape. About 85 kilometers from Arcos de la Frontera, the town straddles the El Tajo Gorge. Besides its spectacular setting, Ronda is famous for bullfighting with its Plaza de Toros Spain’s second oldest bullring. In the old town, the narrow, labyrinthine streets and whitewashed buildings reveal a rich Moorish inheritance. The ancient Arab Baths in the Barrio de San Miguel are further proof of the Islamic influence.

In spring 2011, Júzcar, with just 250 inhabitants, was painted blue to celebrate the worldwide premiere of the Smurf movie, a PR initiative agreed with Sony Pictures. Before this seemingly random event, it was just another one of the many beautiful pueblos blancos perched over the Rio Genal. Although the plan was to paint the village white again after the premiere ended, the locals are still enjoying the attention and boost to the economy that tourism continues to bring. Some 13 years later, the town remains painted blue!

The joy of Júzcar is that, whilst perhaps a bit gimmicky…., it’s actually a fun place and certainly set in a beautiful location. Large statues of Smurfs and colourful red mushrooms can be found around the town, murals and cartoons cover the walls, and cute road signs show you the way around to show you everything on offer.