The most beautiful mountain villages in Andalusia

Travellers have started to show more interest in Andalusian mountains lately. However, when we talk about beautiful villages, this Spanish region tends to be linked either to the coast or to its large capitals. When we discussed the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, it became apparent that many of these charming places belong to the mountains. The following lines will take us on a journey through the beautiful mountain villages of Andalusia, so full of history and culture.

The beauty of the mountain villages of Andalusia

Almonaster la Real, Huelva

The mountain range of Huelva hosts this village with charming natural surroundings, as well as a great historical and cultural heritage. That is why it was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico in 1982. Vestiges of the Bronze Age and many traces of the Roman and Visigothic past have been found in the area. One can also travel to the Caliphate of Córdoba through its mosque, the main symbol of the village. Its beautiful architecture and cobbled streets make it the perfect place for strolling around, and it is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful mountain villages of Andalusia.

Bubión, Granada

Bubión awaits over 1300 metres above sea level, at the heart of the Alpujarras of Granada. It belongs to the area known as Barranco de la Poqueira, where one can find other villages that are more popular, like Pampaneira or Capileira. We have selected Bubión instead because it is lesser-known, and therefore more peaceful. This village cannot be fully seen from the road, and this is why many travellers just drive past it. Nevertheless, anyone choosing to come close to Bubión will discover a lovely place with steep streets and typical houses, adapted to the mountain area.

Finding the roots of Bubión means to go back to the Roman period. However, it was actually the Muslims who left the oldest trace there, which rests in the settlement of Alguastar, on the outskirts of the village. If you want to dive deep into the history of Bubión, you can do so by visiting the two museums that share that purpose.

Casares, Málaga

This is not only one of the most beautiful mountain villages in Andalusia, but also one of the places with the wealthiest heritage on the list. It was also declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico, and its streets keep interesting buildings like the church of La Encarnación, a late 16^th-century temple, or the hermitage of San Sebastián, from the 17^th century. Perhaps its greatest monument is the castle, which rests on the perfect spot to grant an amazing panoramic view of the valleys and hills spreading from the Serranía de Ronda to the bay of Algeciras. The house-museum of Blas Infante is also visiting in Casares.

Cazorla, Jaén

This municipality rests in the comarca of Alto Guadalquivir, surrounded by a rich mountain landscape. It belongs to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, which has been a UNESCO nature reserve since 1983. Traditional houses, manors and other buildings of great artistic value inhabit the streets of Cazorla. For instance, the church of San Francisco and the hermitage of San Sebastián really are worth visiting.

However, the most remarkable monument here is probably the castle. The Castillo de la Yedra stands 800 metres above sea level, at the highest point of the village. Despite its Berber origin, it was the Christians who finished its construction, hence the mix of architectural styles. Cazorla is definitely one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia, and maybe in the whole Spain too.

Constantina, Seville

The history of Constantina goes way back in time as well. Indeed, old vestiges have been found in nearby caves. The most ancient traces that have been found in this village of Seville are linked to its Arab past, particularly so in the neighbourhood of La Morería. Its old town has been declared a place of Interés Histórico-Artístico, whereas the castle is a Bien de Interés Cultural. A walk through the village will unveil manors of Mudejar or Neoclassical style, as well as interesting religious monuments, such as the parish church of Santa María de la Encarnación. Constantina has played a key role for centuries now, both for its strategic location regarding communication and its mountain landscape, great for benefiting from natural resources like copper and silver.

Fuenteheridos, Huelva

This enclave in the middle of lush forests was also declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico. Its streets welcome the travellers with interesting temples, like the church of Espíritu Santo, from the 16^th century. There are also exceptional natural sites, like the spring of the Múrtigas, under the square of El Coso. This place is regarded as one of the most prolific river sources of the Sierra Morena area. It is also worth mentioning the Neoclassical facades from the 18^th century that decorate this village with no more than 600 inhabitants.

Grazalema, Cádiz

At an altitude of 900 metres, resting on the mountain range of the same name, Grazalema is one of the rainiest places in Spain. It is thanks to this weather that the Spanish fir grows there, the only fir species one can find in Andalusia. The natural setting of Grazalema is simply wonderful, and there are different lookouts around the village to enjoy amazing views of the mountains. Regarding the village, it was declared a Conjunto Histórico, and the travellers will love to stroll down its narrow, cobbled streets, decorated with whitewashed buildings. A must-see monument in Grazalema would be the Baroque church of Nuestra Señora de la Aurora.

Istán, Málaga

This corner of Málaga, resting between the Costa del Sol and the mountain range of Las Nieves, is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful villages in Andalusia. It is also known as the “spring of Costa del Sol”, a title whose meaning one can understand by visiting the Museo y Centro de Interpretación del Agua, a museum that is focused on the history of Istán.

The current village was founded in the 15^th century. Some years later, they built the church of San Miguel, one of the most remarkable monuments to visit in Istán. Other interesting sites there include the tower of Escalante, which was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural, and the hermitage of San Miguel, resting in a cave 3 kilometres away from Istán. The panoramic views of the place are just stunning.

Ohanes, Almería

The Alpujarras of Almería hide Ohanes, a white gem resting on a hill at the Sierra Nevada National Park, at an altitude of almost 1000 metres. Just as Istán, Ohanes witnessed the conflicts between Arabs and Christians. Indeed, its church was burnt down by Moorish people in the late 16^th century. It was rebuilt two centuries later, displaying a Neoclassical style we can still enjoy today. The natural setting of Ohanes should not be missed either: it is surrounded by fascinating caves, like the ones of Nieles and Almacena.

Parauta, Málaga

To the west of Málaga, Parauta deserves to be on the list of the most beautiful villages of Andalusia, but it is probably among the lesser-known ones. It spreads on the valley of Genal, and the village has different fountains whose fresh water streams directly from the river. Needless to say, this place is deeply connected to nature.

Parauta has human-made monuments to discover too. For instance, there is the church of the Inmaculada Concepción, dating back to the 16^th century, which has an interesting interior. The traveller should not leave without paying a visit to the holm oak of Valdecilla, a tree reaching the height of 20 metres that, according to experts, could be one of the oldest holm oaks in the world.

Segura de la Sierra, Jaén

The comarca of Sierra de Segura, to the northeast of Jaén, is home to Segura de la Sierra, a lovely village at an altitude of 1140 metres. It was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico and a Paisaje Pintoresco (“Picturesque Landscape”). The views from all over the municipality, which is scattered across the mountain range, are simply spectacular.

Segura de la Sierra has an Arab origin, but the Christians seized it in the early 13^th century. The Order of Santiago took over the village and turned it into the centre of their encomienda. That is, the most important place in the area. When the French seized it in the 19^th century, they destroyed a large part of its heritage, but luckily, the restoration works saved a significant portion too. It is thanks to them that we can enjoy the beauty of the church of Santa María del Collado, among other monuments. Its impressive castle, with an altitude of more than 1200 metres, offers an interesting visit and amazing views of the mountains.

 Zahara de la Sierra, Cádiz

This village in Cádiz rests at the foothills of the mountain range of El Jaral. It belongs to the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, and it is considered one of the most beautiful mountain villages of Andalusia. Zahara de la Sierra was declared a Conjunto-Histórico as well. Its origin as an Arab villa still remains in the streets, the castle and some sections of the wall. There are fascinating monuments to discover in the old town, like the church of Santa María de la Mesa and the chapel of San Juan de Letrán. The reservoir of Zahara-El Gastor has its own artificial beach too. This mountain village is full of surprises!

Zuheros, Córdoba

To the southeast of the province of Córdoba, acting as a natural border between the Sierra Subbética Natural Park and Córdoba’s countryside, Zuheros will amaze the traveller with its unique beauty. Indeed, its narrow streets and charming squares always take us to another time. It was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (“Asset of Cultural Interest”) in the category of Conjunto Histórico-Artístico. In the surrounding area, it is worth visiting the Bats Cave, a notable archeological site and the perfect getaway for those interested in caves and history.