Algodonales (About the town)
The first archeological remainders that can be found in Algodonales belong to the Noelithic Period: “ The Holy Cave” , “ Chamusquina Cave” and “ Castillejo cave”.
But the begginings of the villa itself remind us to the Ducal Family of Arcos , who reconquered all the Arabian surrounding territories.In 1566 Algodonales got the title of “Aldea” with the benefict of the Papacy who allowed to build the Santa Ana Church in Plaza de la Constitucion.
The urban center was built following the Arabian structure,taking advantage of the natural paths to got beneficts from the water rain , the shadow for those hot summer days, the white colour of the houses and the nice smell of the orange trees.
The village keeps a lot of natural unexploded sources wich become a surprise for the visiting people.
The village is better known for the practise of ski and wind sports over its high hills.
• Santa Ana´s Church in Plaza de la Constitucion.
Town Hall
• It is in Avda de Andalucia, 2 Tel : 956 13 70 03
Festivals &
Traditional Holidays
• Carnival , February
• Semana Santa , Week leading up to Easter
• Ofrenda de Flores,Last Saturday of every May
• Virgencita de la Sierra Pilgrimage , May
• Santiago y Santa Ana Feria, Last Week of July
• 5700 inhabitants
• It is located at the south-west of Cadiz, more than 1500 metres above the Natural Hill of Grazalema
Gastronomy
• The Olive oil, it is so special for its rigorous process of selection of the olive.
• El gañote: some of the sweets with more tradition
Olvera (About the town)
During The Muslim Period Olvera connected borders surrounding the mountains ( La Sierra) The Arabian Wall was ocupied for the 1st time in 1327 by Alfonso XI`s troops.In this very same year Christians got settlement by Carta de Poblacion which frees the city from all debts and imprisionments but condemn people who commit serious crimes to remain in the Villa for a whole year and day.
The Duke of Osuna signed Olvera`s Purchase in the 13th Century and he will keep the ownership of the Villa until the 19th Century.
Napoleonic Troops ocupied the villa in the 18th Century , they were settled in until 1812 when they left.In 1868 took place the Gloriosa Revolution, after the Republican Period the Crownship is back.AlfonsoXII gave the villa the title of Town By the Royal Decrete Law in 1877.
Nowadays, after recovering from the difficulties during the 1st decades of the 20th Century,Olvera keeps on living from Agriculture ,Foresting and Farming also complemented with the Touristic activity of the village and the surroundings.
• The most important monument is the Arabian Castle from the 12th Century, close to is the Nuestra Señora de la Encarnaciòn Church, a Neoclassic buliding from the 18th Century, both of them in Plaza de la Iglesia, where you can also visit La Cilla Museum.
Town Hall
• It is in Plaza del Ayuntamiento Tel. 956 13 0011
Festivals & Traditional Holidays
• Carnaval , February
• Easter March/ April
• Quasimodo Pilgrimage, April
• Dia de la Asuncion de la Virgen ,August 15th Situation & Population
• 9100 inhabitants
• Is placed in the North-East of the province of Cadiz, to 130 km of the capital.
Gastronomy
• This one wastes flavors and varieties, possessing a special seasoning: the purest olive oil, which flows of its land of olive trees.
Zahara de la Sierra (About the town)
One of the most beautiful villages in Cadiz ,located at the North East of the province.The Torre del Homenaje rises over the mountains which cover this pretty village . Close to the the borders of the mountains we can see the Lake.
During the Muslim period Zahara became a defensive wall fortress, actually, in the upper side of the fortress the arabians built the Castle.
In 1483 the Christrians reconquered it ,so the Catholics kings granted the Castle to the Marquis of Cadiz , Rodrigo Ponce de Leon, who ruled over the fortress and the villa
Zahara was the center of the Lordship of Ponce de Leon and it belonged to the Kingdom of Seville, ruled also by the Marquis of Cadiz, who at the same time ruled over Benaocaz,Villaluenga , Grazalema and Ubrique.
In the first period of the History of Zahara after it was conquered by the Chistians , Algodonales villa was created but in the 19th Century the lordship was divided into three municipal villages : Zahara de la Sierra, Algodonales and El Gastor.
From A social point of view we have to pay attention to the emigration movement which took place in Zahara for 30 years after the Civil War
• Santa Maria de la Mesa Church c/ Plaza de Zahara s/n
• Remainings of the Castle c/ Parte mas alta del Peñon
• San Juan de Letràn Church c/ Boquete de San Juan s/n
Town Hall
• It is in C/ Plaza del Rey,1 Tel: 956 12 30 04
Festivals & Traditional Holidays
• San Juan Festivity 24th June
• Feria 1st August
• Carnaval 5th February
• Corpus Christi 13th June
• San Simon and San Judas Festivity 20th October Situation & Population
• 1555 inhabitants
• It is a white Andalusian village , placed to the north of Grazalema's Nature reserve, in the Province of Cadiz