Setenil de las Bodegas is a small municipality located in the province of Cádiz in Andalusia. Its old town has been declared a Historic Site and it is also well known for being part of the famous Route of the White Villages in which different charming Andalusian towns are crossed.
Setenil de las Bodegas stands out for traditional beauty of the village, but also by the houses built under the rocks, adapting to the environment like nowhere else. Let's see what are the points of interest in this place.
How to get to Setenil de las Bodegas
This population is located in the Trejo river canyon in the province of Cádiz and there is evidence of the presence of inhabitants for thousands of years, due to the location of its caves. At present it is a very touristy place that is located on the Route of the White Villages. It is located at 135 kilometers from Cádiz and 116 kilometers from Seville. One of the simplest ways is to take a flight to Seville and from there rent a vehicle to be able to make the route of the towns, since this town can be visited in one or two days. From here you can visit some other nearby towns that are of interest, so it is recommended to rent a vehicle. From Ubrique to Olvera, Zahara de la Sierra or Arcos de la Frontera.
Historical artistic complex
One of the main attractions of this town lies precisely in its historic center. Stroll through its streets and enjoy the beautiful white houses and its corners is a great incentive. Cuevas del Sol street is one of the busiest and most touristic spots. It is better to go in the early hours or in low season to be able to take beautiful snapshots. In this area you can see how the river crosses the municipality and also those houses built sheltered from the rocks. This street is so named because it is sunny most of the day. In Cuevas de la Sombra street we find a place that is always in the shade, under the rocks. These two points are the most visited and there are also restaurants, gourmet product stores and bars to take a walk in the area with ease. There are other streets that are similar, such as Herrería, Jabonería, Triana or Calcetas.
To have impressive views of the town there are several viewpoints. The Viewpoint of the Catholic Monarchs It is the place from which the siege of the Alcazaba was carried out, which finally fell into the hands of the Catholic Monarchs. If we are in Cuevas del Sol street we will find at the end some stairs by which we can go up to the Mirador del Carmen, where the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is located.
Castle of Setenil de las Bodegas
This castle was built during the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries and it is the only Nasrid fortress that still preserves the entire medieval framework. At present the Torre del Homenaje and the cistern, which can be visited inside today. In the Torre del Homenaje it is possible to see a beautiful collection of old images of Setenil de las Bodegas. Although it is possible to climb to the highest area of the tower, there are not very good views due to the thick walls.
Hermitages and churches
In this town, the large number of hermitages and churches that can be seen stands out. Of course it is noted that the religious aspect is quite important among the population. The Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation It has the Mudejar and Gothic styles, since they are really two temples. The Hermitage of San Sebastián is from the XNUMXth century, the Hermitage of San Benito was built on a mosque in the Moorish area and the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is from the XNUMXth century.
Caves and bridges
Another of the charms that this town has are its caves, due to those rocky constructions. The Caves of San Román XNUMXth century. Bridges can also be ideal places to see special landscapes and take the best photos. As the river runs through the town there are several very beautiful bridges to see. The Puente de la calle Triana from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries or the Puente de la calle Ronda from the XNUMXth century.
Festivities in Setenil de las Bodegas
Depending on the time of year in which we visit this town, we can also experience different celebrations. In the town the festivities that take place during Holy Week stand out above all, which has been declared of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia. During this festival, gang wars take place between the village brotherhoods, which have a great rivalry. During this Holy Week you can also enjoy the processions, which are even more picturesque when moving through the peculiar streets of the town.