The White Towns of Andalusia, or ''Pueblos Blancos'', are a series of

whitewash Whitewash, calcimine, kalsomine, calsomine, asbestis or lime paint is a type of paint made from slaked lime ( calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2) or chalk (calcium carbonate, CaCO3), sometimes known as "whiting". Various other additives are sometimes ...

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

s and large

village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...

s in the northern part of the

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

s of

Cádiz Cádiz ( , , ) is a city in Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula off the Atlantic Ocean separated fr ...

and

Málaga Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...

in southern

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

, mostly within the

Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park () is a natural park in the northeastern part of the province of Cádiz in southern Spain. The park encompasses, within its , a complex of mountain ranges, known collectively as the Sierra de Grazalema, which, ...

History and description

The area has been settled since

prehistoric Prehistory, also called pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the first known use of stone tools by hominins million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use o ...

times, and some of the local

cave Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...

s have ancient

rock painting In archaeology, rock arts are human-made markings placed on natural surfaces, typically vertical stone surfaces. A high proportion of surviving historic and prehistoric rock art is found in caves or partly enclosed rock shelters; this type al ...

s. Iberian people,

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

Visigoths The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied Barbarian kingdoms, barbarian military group unite ...

and

Berbers Berbers, or the Berber peoples, also known as Amazigh or Imazighen, are a diverse grouping of distinct ethnic groups indigenous to North Africa who predate the arrival of Arab migrations to the Maghreb, Arabs in the Maghreb. Their main connec ...

are some of the settlers before the

Modern Era The modern era or the modern period is considered the current historical period of human history. It was originally applied to the history of Europe and Western history for events that came after the Middle Ages, often from around the year 1500 ...

that left their print. It was precisely during Roman times that whitewashing was introduced, but it was later during the pandemic plague waves during 14th and later centuries when whitewashing exterior but also interior walls of houses and churches - the latter often visited by disease-affected inhabitants - became predominant. These villages punctuate or are close to natural parks in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, including

that is listed as a

biosphere reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...

and is the highest rainfall area in Spain, or

Los Alcornocales Natural Park Los Alcornocales Natural Park (in Spanish, Parque natural de Los Alcornocales) is a natural park located in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia; it is shared between the Province of Cádiz and Málaga. The natural park o ...

with its cork oak protected landscape. All of the villages are characterised by

ed walls and red or brown

tile Tiles are usually thin, square or rectangular coverings manufactured from hard-wearing material such as ceramic, Rock (geology), stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass. They are generally fixed in place in an array to cover roofs, floors, wal ...

roof A roof (: roofs or rooves) is the top covering of a building, including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights, providing protection against rain, snow, sunlight, extremes of tempera ...

s. They also commonly present narrow alleyways, steep hills, lookouts, and town squares with a church and town hall. Often local institutions manage archeological museums with Roman or Arab artifacts, as well as others dedicated to local customs, crafts or trades.

Villages and routes

There are proposed routes to visit some of the villages. The better known ones are those close to

Ronda Ronda () is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain belonging to the province of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is about 35,000. Ronda is known for its cliffside location and a deep canyon that ca ...

(

Serranía de Ronda The Serranía de Ronda is one of the nine comarcas in the western part of the province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. This comarca was established in 2003 by the Government of Andalusia. As is currently (as of 2009) the norm in Andalusia, it has n ...

comarca,

province of Málaga The province of Málaga ( ) is located in Andalusia, Spain. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and by the provinces of Cádiz to the west, Seville to the northwest, Córdoba to the north, and Granada to the east. The province ...

) and

Arcos de la Frontera Arcos de la Frontera () is a town and municipality in the Sierra de Cádiz comarca, province of Cádiz (province), Cádiz, in Andalusia, Spain. Location Arcos de la Frontera is 64 km N-E of Cádiz and 35 km E-N-E of Jerez de la Front ...

(

Sierra de Cádiz Sierra de Cádiz (Spanish: "Cádiz Mountains") is one of the six ''comarcas'' (county, but with no administrative role) province of Cádiz (Andalusia, southern Spain). Most of the comarca's territory falls within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural ...

comarca,

Province of Cádiz Cádiz is a Provinces of Spain, province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of ...

). ; Ronda's White Towns route *

, including the ancient Roman settlement of Acinipo archeological site. * Setenil de las Bodegas,

comarca; some parts of the village use the rocky mountains as walls and roof of the houses. * Torre Alháquime,

comarca *

Olvera Olvera is a town in the province of Cádiz (province), Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 8,585 inhabitants. Overview At the tip of the "White Towns of Andalusia, White towns route", the city ...

comarca * Algodonales,

comarca; 16th-century town with some

ruins *

Zahara de la Sierra Zahara de la Sierra is a municipality in the province of Cádiz in the hills of Andalusia, southern Spain. It is perched on a mountain, overlooking a valley and a man-made lake formed by the dam that must be driven over to access the town. It is c ...

comarca; it is in the

next to a

reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...

. * Grazalema,

comarca *

Benaocaz Benaocaz is a village located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. It is located within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. According to the 2006 census, the city has a population of 729 inhabitants. The town's name dates back to the Moors, and de ...

comarca; small village with a fortress * Cartajima,

comarca,

* Canillas de Albaida,

Axarquía Axarquía () is a in the province of Málaga, Andalusia in southern Spain. It is the wedge-shaped area east of Málaga. Its name is traced back to Arabic (, meaning "the eastern egion). It extends along the coast and inland. Its coastal towns m ...

comarca,

Province of Málaga The province of Málaga ( ) is located in Andalusia, Spain. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and by the provinces of Cádiz to the west, Seville to the northwest, Córdoba to the north, and Granada to the east. The province ...

; its name says of its whiteness in Arabic. ; Arcos de la Frontera's White Towns route: * Alcalá de los Gazules,

La Janda La Janda is one of the six comarca (Spain), ''comarcas'' (county, but with no administrative role) in the province of Cádiz, southern Spain. It was established in 2003 by the Government of Andalusia. Municipalities La Janda consists of the foll ...

comarca,

province of Cádiz Cádiz is a Provinces of Spain, province of southern Spain, in the southwestern part of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the southernmost part of mainland Spain, as well as the southernmost part of ...

Medina Sidonia Medina Sidonia is a city and municipality in the province of Cádiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia, southern Spain. Considered by some to be the oldest city in Europe, it is used as a military defence location because of its elevation. ...

comarca,

; including the Roman settlement of Asido. *

comarca; perched on a cliff with

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

churches. *

Bornos Bornos is a town and municipality located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. Demographics See also * List of municipalities in Cádiz Cádiz is a province in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, which is divided into 45 municipal ...

and

Villamartín Villamartín is a city located in the province of Cádiz Cádiz ( , , ) is a city in Spain and the capital of the Province of Cádiz in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located in the southwest ...

comarca; reservoir, Roman ruins * Ubrique,

comarca; largest of the white towns, high quality leather crafts among other features (as of 2023, it is the world’s largest leather bag producer and exporter). * Casares,

Costa del Sol Occidental Costa del Sol Occidental (English: "Western Coast of the Sun") is one of the nine Comarcas of Spain, ''comarcas'' (county) in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, southern Spain. This comarca was established in 2003 by the Government of Andalusia. ...

comarca,

Jimena de la Frontera Jimena or is the Spanish female version of the given name Jimeno. The French rendering of the name is Chimène. It has come to be viewed as a form of the name Simone, though their origins are distinct. A variant is Ximena. People with the nam ...

Campo de Gibraltar Campo de Gibraltar () is one of the six ''comarcas'' (county) in the province of Cádiz, Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of mainland Europe. It comprises the municipalities of Algec ...

comarca,

Castellar de la Frontera Castellar de la Frontera is a town and municipality located in the province of Cádiz, in Andalusia, Spain. It is a medieval town within a castle. Description Castellar de la Frontera is a village within a castle surrounded by the walls of a well ...

comarca,

; Other villages and places to visit *

Mijas Pueblo Mijas Pueblo is the historical core of the municipality of Mijas, situated in the heart of the Costa del Sol in southwestern Spain. It lies only 30 kilometres from Málaga Airport. It has a varied landscape that goes from the mountains all the wa ...

(town center of

Mijas Mijas ( ; ) is a municipality in the Province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Located on the southeastern coast of Spain, Mijas belongs to the region of Costa del Sol Occidental. Its center is a typical Andalusian white- ...

comarca,

; Burro Taxi, Old Cathedral; typical Spanish white village * Mojacar,

Levante Almeriense Levante Almeriense is one of the seven comarca, comarcas in the province of Almeria, Andalusia, Spain. This comarca was established in 2003 by the Government of Andalusia. It is located in the oriental side and it was occupied since the Bronze Age ...

comarca, province of Almeria; Mountain village and beach village, both white villages * Garganta Verde and Ermita de la Garganta; caves with

stalactite A stalactite (, ; , ) is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble and that can be deposited as a colloid, or is in suspension (chemistry ...

s and

stalagmite A stalagmite (, ; ; ) is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically composed of calcium carbonate, but may consist ...

s * Puerto de las Palomas,

comarca; mountain pass with panoramic views *

Villaluenga del Rosario Villaluenga del Rosario is a village located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 481 inhabitants. It is located down Navazo Alto mountain, within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. The ...

comarca; highest of the white towns * Benamahoma, Grazalema municipio,

comarca; white village, includes the source of Majaceite river * El Bosque,

comarca;white village,

trout fishing Trout (: trout) is a generic common name for numerous species of carnivorous freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the genera ''Oncorhynchus'', ''Salmo'' and ''Salvelinus'', all of which are members of the subfamily Salmoninae in the fam ...

and

hang gliding Hang gliding is an air sports, air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised, fixed-wing aircraft, fixed-wing heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium al ...

. *

Prado del Rey Prado del Rey is a city located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 5,968 inhabitants. History Human remains have been found dating back to the Paleolithic but the first mention in ancien ...

comarca; a more modern white village * Puerto Serrano,

comarca; a quiet white village *

El Gastor El Gastor is a city located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2005 census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the m ...

comarca; Balcón de los Pueblos Blancos with a church *

Alcalá del Valle Alcalá del Valle is a city located in the province of Cádiz (province), Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2006 census, the city has a population of 5,355. It is the last village along the Route of the White Villages, it serves as a bridge between ...

comarca; white village with

megalithic A megalith is a large Rock (geology), stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. More than 35,000 megalithic structures have been identified across Europe, ranging ...

standing stones nearby * Algar,

comarca; white village up a mountain road *

Espera Espera is a city located in the province of Cádiz (province), Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 3,909 inhabitants. Demographics See also * List of municipalities in Cádiz References External links ...

comarca; white village, panoramic views *

Vejer de la Frontera Vejer de la Frontera is a Spanish hilltop town and municipality in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, on the right bank of the river Barbate. The town of Vejer de la Frontera occupies a low hill overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar and surrounded ...

comarca,

; white village. *

Frigiliana Frigiliana is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. The municipality is situated approximately 71 kilometers east of Málaga, the provincial capital, and approximately ...

comarca,

; white village, musk wine and olive oil * Montefrío, Loja comarca,

province of Granada Granada is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the provinces of Albacete, Murcia, Almería, Jaén, Córdoba, Málaga, and the Mediterranean Sea (along the Costa Tropi ...

; a top 1
National Geographic
ref> views in the world *

Zuheros Zuheros is a mountain village located in the province of Córdoba, Spain. According to the 2006 census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population informatio ...

Subbética Subbética is a comarca in the province of Province of Córdoba (Spain), Córdoba, Spain. Municipalities It contains the following municipalities: * Almedinilla * Benamejí * Cabra, Spain, Cabra * Carcabuey * Doña Mencía * Encinas Reales * Fuen ...

comarca, province of Córdoba; white village. * Cabra,

comarca; white village. *

Iznájar Iznájar is a town and municipal area in the province of Córdoba in Andalucia, southern Spain. Demographics In 2005, it had a population of 4,960 inhabitants, with a population density of 36.5 people per km2. Geography The municipality cover ...

comarca; white village. *

Priego de Córdoba Priego de Córdoba is a town and municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It lies on the southeasternmost end of the province of Córdoba, near the headwater of the Guadajoz, and on the northern slope of the Sierr ...

comarca; white village. * Almedinilla,

comarca; white village. *

Lucena Lucena (, American Spanish: , European Spanish: ), officially known as the City of Lucena (), is a highly urbanized city situated in the Calabarzon region (Region IV-A) of the Philippines. The city is the largest urban center and capital of ...

comarca; white village.

Climate

The

climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in a region, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteoro ...

is mild and the surrounding

countryside In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically describ ...

is green.

Tourist Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity on ...

activities available include

hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

rock-climbing Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in guidebooks, and ...

, pot-holing,

cycling Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-driven human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world fo ...

horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the u ...

nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

walks and the local food.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:White Towns Of Andalusia Geography of Andalusia Geography of the Province of Cádiz Geography of the Province of Málaga Cultural tourism in Spain