A route through the white villages of Cádiz by car
Andalusia has countless charming towns and in all the provinces you will find beautiful places to visit. If you are in Cádiz, the route you must take is the one of the white towns, a fantastic route that will not only take you through fantastic towns but also to admire enviable landscapes.
This route is designed to be done in a weekend since there are quite a few towns that you must visit, but if you organize yourself well and get up very early you can also do it in a single day.
This route is so called because in the towns you will visit the white color of the facades of their houses predominates, a color that gives it the lime with which they were covered in the 19th century to protect themselves from the sun and the heat of the area.
What to visit on the route through the white villages of Cádiz
There are 19 white towns in Cadiz. Visiting them all is practically impossible in 1 or 2 days, not only because of the quantity but also because of the roads you will have to travel along, many of them mountainous and curvy. So here we are going to show you which are the obligatory stops on the route through the white towns.
Vejer de la Frontera
We are going to start our route through the white towns of Cádiz in the beautiful town of Vejer de la Frontera, the one located furthest south and the closest to the sea.
Vejer de la Frontera is located on top of a 200-meter-high hill in a walled area that contains one of the most beautiful towns in Cádiz. Its nerve center is the Plaza de España, where the Town Hall is located as well as the beautiful Fuente de los Pescaítos.
From there, the best thing to do is get lost in its steep streets admiring the Jewish Quarter and the Church of El Divino Salvador, as well as the Monument to Women, its castle and, of course, its famous Windmills. Vejer de la Frontera is probably the town with the most places to visit on the route of the white towns of Cádiz.
Medina Sidonia
From Vejer de la Frontera we head north, approaching the mountains, but first we will find Medina Sidonia, located 30km from the first.
This beautiful white town is also located on a hill and is considered one of the oldest towns in the Iberian Peninsula and also one of the most beautiful thanks to its cobbled streets, its white houses with their balconies and above all for the views that can be seen. they have of the Cadiz bay, exceptional for the height at which the town is located and the proximity to the coast.
After this visit, we return to take the car and make the journey until we reach the next of the towns that we are going to visit, finally approaching the mountains of Cádiz.
Border Arches
After about 40 minutes of travel we arrive at Arcos de la Frontera, another of the white villages perched on a hill. It is the largest municipality in the Sierra de Cádiz and, of course, one of the best white villages in Cádiz that you should visit.
The Guadalete River is at its feet and both of it and of the surroundings we will have extraordinary views after climbing its steep slopes and enjoying an old town where white houses with red roofs predominate over everything else.
From Arcos de la Frontera we must highlight the Basilica of Santa María de la Asunción, located in a large square where one of the best viewpoints in the province of Cádiz is located. Also don’t miss the Mirador de Peña Vieja, which has views of the opposite area, or the Church of San Pedro with its spectacular Baroque façade.
Grazalema
From Arcos it will take 1 hour to get to Grazalema. The road is winding but it is worth it thanks to the landscapes that we will find in the Sierra de Grazalema, the area of Spain where it rains the most. Yes, that area is in Cádiz. This small white town is one of the prettiest in the province.
In Grazalema we will find a network of Arabic-style alleys that you will want to get lost in to enjoy the charm that lies behind them and the white facades with their pots of geraniums and carnations that give a special color to its streets. Enjoying its viewpoints is also one of the best activities to do in Grazalema, and if you have time, take an excursion through the wonders that the Grazalema Natural Park offers you.
This town is also famous for its honey and cheese, making it a good place to enjoy the local cuisine.
Zahara de la Sierra
In about 30 minutes we will arrive at another of the fantastic white villages of Cádiz. And another that is perched on a hill. We are talking about Zahara de la Sierra. The first thing you should do when you arrive is admire the town from the outside and the best place is the Mirador to the north of the town next to the Zahara Reservoir.
After admiring the town from this viewpoint, it is time to visit it and continue enjoying the white houses and the alleys that these towns offer you, as well as their beautiful Castle, located in the highest part. Also do not miss the Church of Santa María de la Mesa.
And if you dare, go up to the castle and enjoy the views offered by its Torre del Homenaje before continuing our journey around the reservoir and reaching our next destination, Setenil de las Bodegas. Along the way you can make a stop at the Acinipo Ruins, an ancient Roman city very close to the Malaga town of Ronda.
Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is probably the most beautiful place of the white villages of Cádiz. Of course, it is the most visited. And it is that here the charm is not found so much in the white houses but in the houses built on the rocks taking advantage of the orography of the land.
Parking is difficult in Setenil but not impossible. And after leaving the car you must walk through its steep streets until you reach its great attractions, Cuevas del Sol Street and Cuevas de la Sombra Street, located on both banks of the Guadalporcún River that crosses the lowest part of the town. They are called that because in one it is always sunny and in another it is always in the shade and in them you will always find a great atmosphere thanks to its restaurants and typical shops.
Other places of interest to visit in Setenil de las Bodegas are the Mirador del Carmen, from where you have beautiful views of the Church of the Incarnation and the Castle or the Plaza de Andalucía.
Oliver
The last of the towns that we are going to visit on the Route of the White Towns of Cádiz is Olvera. Perhaps after having visited all the previous ones you will believe that Olvera is not going to surprise you and that it is more of the same. But nothing is further from reality because Olvera, without having the fame of the others, is perhaps one of the most beautiful towns in Cádiz.
As you approach Olvera you can already guess its beauty thanks to its Castle and the Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, a spectacular neoclassical church with a beauty that you will find in few places.
You will have the best views of the church from the stairs that ascend from Calle Llana, leaving aside the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. We also recommend visiting its Moorish Castle and enjoying the views.
You can find more information on the official tourism page of the province of Cadiz.
