Visit The Iconic Pueblos Blancos Of Andalucía, Southern Spain

The Costa del Sol in Andalucía, southern Spain is renowned for its endless beaches, most of which have Blue Flag accreditation. The restaurants and bars offer plenty of delicious local cuisine and good wines. However, what a lot of visitors might lose out on is the pretty “Pueblos Blancos” or White Villages, located just a few miles inland. These quaint towns spread over hilltops and hillsides, with their whitewashed homes and narrow streets touched by the colors of geraniums and bougainvillea.

Pueblos Blancos of Andalucía

The “Pueblos Blancos” of southern Spain are renowned for their quaint beauty, dramatic landscapes and peacefulness. Most of the villages spread over hilltops and hillsides where in the past were former fortresses, dating from the Moorish occupation of Spain. The villages get their name from the whitewashed homes that line the narrow alleyways. Originally, they were whitewashed to keep the home cool in the hot summer sun. These days, homeowners in the villages are usually required to keep them white.

Most of the white villages are surrounded by lemon and orange orchards and olive groves, while the villages themselves are prettied up with bright flowers, including different shades of bougainvillea and geraniums, making their cobblestoned streets a delight to stroll.

For anyone traveler who wishes to explore the official Pueblos Blancos Route, this takes visitors through the following white villages:

Alcalá del Valle, Algar, Algodonales, Arcos de la Frontera, Benaocaz, Bornos, El Bosque, El Gastor , Espera, Grazalema, Olvera, Prado del Rey, Puerto Serrano, Setenil de las Bodegas, Torre Alháquime, Ubrique, Vejer de la Frontera, Villaluenga del Rosario, Villamartín, Zahara de la Sierra.

However, not everyone has the time to visit them all. For that reason, the following are the most famous and definite must-visit locations on a tour of the Pueblos Blancos of Andalucía in southern Spain.

Arcos de la Frontera, Cádiz Province – Pueblos Blancos

Located in Cadiz Province, Arcos de la Frontera is probably one of the most famous Pueblos Blancos. The white homes are perched on the top of a sandstone cliff and were originally part of a frontier town in the Reconquista of Spain when the Spanish took the area back from the Moors.

However, due to its strategic, defensive location. Arcos was settled long before the Moors arrived. While visiting, enjoy a charming stay at one of Spain’s iconic Paradores, the Parador de Arcos de la Frontera. The panoramic views from the hotel and the town itself are fabulous.

Ronda, Malaga Province

Ronda is one of the larger white villages, renowned for its Moorish and Roman architecture. Meanwhile, the town is perched on a hilltop, with the “New Bridge” connecting its two halves across the El Tajo Gorge.

Visitors can walk on the town’s defensive walls and explore Moorish and Roman ruins. Another site of interest is the town’s 18th-century bullring, the Plaza de Toros. Moreover, Ronda features a beautiful park with a viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside. While the town has several bed & breakfasts, a stay at the Parador de Ronda is a real treat. The hotel can be seen in the image above, standing to the left of the New Bridge.

Setenil de las Bodegas, Cádiz Province – White Villages of Spain

Setenil de las Bodegas is a unique town, with its white homes built into the rock overhangs above the Rio Guadalporcún. Many of the homes are burrowed into the hillside, keeping them cool in summer and warm in winter. Meanwhile, the town has a hilltop castle, which was formerly a Moorish fortress. Moreover, the Torreon del Homenaje tower in Setenil offers panoramic views of the countryside. Close to town, visitors can explore the Roman ruins of Acinipo, with its amphitheater. Enjoy a stay at a traditional bed & breakfast or in one of the homes, set under the rock.

Take time out to visit some of the beautiful Pueblos Blancos, or White Villages of Andalucía, down in the south of Spain.