Setenil de las Bodegas – 8 places not to be missed
Setenil de las Bodegas photos and best things to see and do
This article on visiting Setenil de las Bodegas highlights the best things to see and do:
- A quick summary of the history of Setenil de las Bodegas
- What to see in Setenil de las Bodegas?
- Where is Setenil de las Bodegas in Andalucia?
- What to do in Setenil, guided tours
- Period of the Setenil de las Bodegas fair
- Find accommodation
- Where to park in Setenil ?
- Some useful links (rent a car, other ideas for visits)
- Great Experiences to discover in the surroundings
A quick summary of the history of Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil de las Bodegas is a very unusual village to see and discover.
It is atypical because many of the houses are troglodyte. They are built from caves or under rocky overhangs.
There is even an inhabited street that runs under a large rock. This is a must-see in Andalucia!
It is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. Setenil is part of the “Pueblos más bonitos de España” network as Vejer de la Frontera. The latter, a sublime white village, is not far from Cadiz.
It is a village of about 3000 inhabitants. Setenil is part of the route of the white villages of the province of Cadiz. It is on the road that leads from Jerez de la Frontera to Ronda.
The magnificent Ronda, another stopover not to be missed, is just 15 km away.
The village as a whole has been classified as a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico (Historic-Artistic Group) since 1985. It also has an important heritage from the Al-Andalus period.
The origins of the village
It seems that this site, made up of natural caves, has been inhabited since prehistoric times, 25,000 years ago.
Later, the Roman colony of Laccipo (now Casares) occupied the site, particularly for the storage of foodstuffs.
However, it was during the Al-Andalus period that Setenil began to play an important role in the history of the region.
From this period, a legend was born. Indeed, its particular geography made Setenil a strong place and particularly difficult to conquer.
It took 7 sieges of the city before the Catholic kings were victorious and took Setenil. The last, victorious attack took place on 21 September 1484. The city fell into the hands of the Catholic kings following an assault by troops led by Rodrigo Ponce de León, Duke of Cadiz.
Legend has it that the name Setenil comes from the translation of the Latin words “Septem Nihil” which means “seven times nothing”.
The full name, on the other hand, dates from the 15th century.
This was the period when new Christians settled here. In addition to preserving the olive and almond fields, they introduced vines. The caves that were used to preserve the wine naturally gave the name of “Bodegas”.
Setenil de las Bodegas what to see?
- Calle Cuevas del Sol (Street of the Caves of the Sun)
- Calle Cuevas de la Sombra
- Book accommodation in a cave house
- The River Trejo
- The Torre del Homenaje of the Xatanil fortress
- Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
- The Mirador del Carmen
- The street of the soap factory (Calle jaboneria)
Calle Cuevas del Sol (Street of the Caves of the Sun)
Calle Cuevas del Sol as its name suggests, this south-facing street receives a lot of sunlight.
- Calle Cuevas de la Sombra, which is also spectacular with this rock above several houses.
- In this street it is possible to rent a very nice flat, right in the centre of the village. In the following link you will find all information about the Casa del Rio.
- In the middle of these 2 streets, the river Trejo flows! It is this river which, over time, has carved out the canyon in which the village now stands.
- The remains of an Arab castle from the Almohad period (12th and 13th centuries). The fortress of Xatanil, of which the Torre del Homenaje remains in very good condition (the interior can be visited).
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, built from 1505 onwards, after the Reconquest, and which mixes the Gothic and Renaissance styles. It is located next to the old fortress.
The Mirador del Carmen
This viewpoint offers a very interesting view of the whole village.
When you visit, you should enter a bar or restaurant in one of these streets to discover the special atmosphere of these houses in the rock.
If you want to stay in Setenil in a cave house : you’ll fin by this link the ideal little house: rural house bajo la alcazaba.
And you will also discover an even temperature in all interior locations and all year round.
Depending on the season and the weather, a maximum variation of only 3°C can be observed.
Location of Setenil de las Bodegas
The nearest major city is however Malaga, and Setenil is about 15 km from Ronda.
What to do in Setenil de las Bodegas, guided tours
Below you will find a number of ideas for activities and visits, classified by theme. You can book them online today.
The +: the activities can all be cancelled up to 24 hours before the scheduled date
Guided tour of Setenil de las Bodegas from the Costa del Sol
from the western Costa del Sol: Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Mijas, Málaga
If you are in the western part of the Costa del Sol and would like to visit Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas, you can use the following link to book a tour from Málaga, Torremolinos, Mijas or Benalmadena.
from the eastern Costa del Sol: Torre del Mar, Torrox and Nerja
An excellent local guide, Cipriano, offers you a wonderful day to visit Ronda and Setenil de la Bodegas.
If you are on holiday between Torre del Mar and Nerja, he will pick you up and drop you off at your holiday destination in the evening.
This day will be an opportunity to see the essentials, accompanied by a guide to understand and discover the richness of 2 magnificent cities. The day is spent in a small semi-private group (8 people maximum).
Here is the link to find out more and to book: Day trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas
Period of the Setenil de las Bodegas fair
Book accommodation
Where to park in Setenil de las Bodegas ?
If you come by car, park outside the village, and avoid going at the weekend.
Ideally, you should be able to park on Paseo Federico Garcia Lorca.
Close to the parking, you can even read a magnificent text by the greatest Andalusian poet
And right next door there is also a street with a curious name…
Some useful links for your holidays in Andalucia
Easy and economical bookings
Continue your trip to Andalucia
Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is a city full of treasures to discover and monuments to visit.
Here you will find everything you can see in Seville in 3 days. And for those who will stay longer you will also find information on secret Seville and the Santa Cruz and Triana districts.
Cadiz
Visit Cadiz, a city with an incredible past and great beauty, on the Costa del la Luz.
Malaga
When you reach the Costa del Sol you will find in this link all must-sees in Malaga :
Granada
Discover what to see in Granada, and visit the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts:
Cordoba
And of course, visit Cordoba, the caliphate city, and the Juderia district
A selection of great experiences to do in the surroundings
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