Sierra de Grazalema

Geoffrey Donoghue of Always Marbella reports on the latest news and events. For more information please visit Always Marbella´s website www.alwaysmarbella.com

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco and the first area to be declared a Natural Park in Andalucia, Sierra de Grazalema is the finest Spanish pine grove in the country.
SIERRA DE GRAZALEMA, NATURAL PARK

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO and the first area to be declared a Natural Park in Andalucia, Sierra de Grazalema is located in the north east of the province of Cadiz and in the north west of Malaga, at an altitude ranging from 250 to 1.654 metres above sea level.

It has the highest rainfall in the Iberian Peninsula, with an annual average of over 2,000 litres per square metre. The rain and the passage of time have created a landscape rich in caves and fantastic gorges.

FLORA

Sierra de Grazalema is the finest Spanish pine grove in the country, the pinsapo (Abies pinsapo Boiss) is a vegetational relic of the tertiary period, a veritable living fossil which only grows at altitudes of over 1.000 metres, is to be found in what is known as the Sierra del Pinar (Pine Grove Mountain Range).

The rest of the Park?s vegetation, clearly Mediterranean in type, includes large areas of holm-oak woods. Cork oak, gall oak and pine groves are also to be found. Carob trees, wild olives and barberries also feature, along with riverside woods and thick scrub.

FAUNA

In the Park you can find one of the largest nesting colonies of tawny vultures in Europe. Several species of eagle can be seen: the golden eagle, Hieraetus fasciatus, Aquila heliaca, Hieratus pennatus and Circaetus gallicus. Other birds such as the goshawk and the Egyptian vulture also inhabit the Park.

THE WHITE VILLAGES

It is a series of little towns located in the mountainous area of the provinces of Cadiz (El Gastor, Benaocaz, El Bosque, Grazalema, Prado del Rey, Ubrique, Villaluenga del Rosario y Zahara) and Malaga (Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, Jimera de Líbar, Montejaque y Ronda).

All of them have narrow streets with irregular layout, their white houses are adorned with flowers and beautiful small squares, of Arab origin. Many of the villages are extended on the feet of castles, like memory of the importance that they had as border zone during the Reconquest.

CURIOSITIES

- From immemorial times, the Castle of Zahara has been legend source. One of the most popular one tells than its inhabitants sighted the danger at night sending stones to the precipice. If the doves flew was that there wasn´t problem. The Christians located themselves in the bottom, and when the first stones fell down they loosen the doves. Then the Christians caught the Moors unaware and conquered so difficult bastion.

- The village from Cadiz El Bosque has the Embellishment National Prize, a stroll by its streets is a great pleasure.

- El quejigo de Benaocaz has been respected because, according to the legend, it was the point where the mountain bandits met to distribute their booties between needed people.

- At Villaluenga del Rosario is very peculiar to hear the murmur of the running water and the underground river that crosses the village.

PLACES OF INTEREST

- Los Linares, El Moralejo and Las Cobatillas.
- El Torreon Peak.
- Libar, Blanquilla y de los Pinos Sierras.
- La Seca and La Verde Gorges.
- La Pileta Cave.
- Archaeological remains at Iptuci and Ocurri.
- Remains of the Arabic Zahara Castle and the district of Benaocaz.
- All of the towns and villages which stand within the Park?s boundaries are of great scenic, cultural and historical interest.
- El Pinar, Margarita, Zafalgar y El Endrina Sierras.
- Hundidero-Gato.