Spain - Andalusia - The Land Of The White Villages (28/151)

Spain - Andalusia - The Land Of The White Villages (28/151)

In the south-west of Andalusia, in Africa's sphere of influence, lies the Land of the White Villages. The "Pueblos Blancos", as the Spaniards call them because of their whitewashed walls, are scattered over the plateau in the midst of the wild, lonely Sierras. Their impressive architecture goes back to the time when the Moors ruled Andalusia. This is why many place names have the suffix "de la Frontera" as a reminder of the embattled border between the Christian north and the Muslim south of Spain. The journey begins in Villaluengo del Rosario, a mountain village situated in the rainiest region of Spain, the "Sierra de Grazalema". Handicrafts and tourism are the main sources of income for the inhabitants of the villages that are often built in spectacular fashion on the cliffs as fortifications. The beautiful old palaces and the churches of Ronda have already been declared a World Heritage Site. From Rilke to Hemingway - a long list of poets and artists found inspiration within the walls of Ronda. That the city was once a smugglers' paradise and is the site of Spain's first and oldest bullfight arena adds to its unique atmosphere. From the Sierras our journey finally takes us towards the coast to Vejer de la Frontera and Sanluca de Barameda, the residence of the last descendant of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, who once reconquered the land from the Moors.