Setenil de las Bodegas: Living under a rock in enchanting Spain
Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most extraordinary towns in Europe. Walking through its streets or drinking coffee in local cafes, you can see rocks above your head. This is everyday life for the residents - they have lived this way for generations.
Setenil de las Bodegas is an ideal day trip destination for tourists in Andalusia. It is just over an hour from Marbella, one of the most popular resorts in Costa del Sol. A walk through this unique town will surely leave unforgettable impressions.
Setenil de las Bodegas - a town wedged into rocks
The residents of Setenil de las Bodegas live in buildings wedged into the rocky walls of a gorge. Most of the houses were built in rock caves, making Setenil one of Spain's most original and beautiful towns. People live here under rocks weighing millions of tonnes.
The settlement belongs to southern Spain's so-called pueblos blancos or white towns. Calle Cuevas del Sol is the most recognizable street, most often photographed and associated with Setenil de las Bodegas. The whitewashed facades of the houses are "glued" under a large rock shelf. It's best to start the tour from this place, preferably in the morning when the sun beautifully illuminates the white walls.
Setenil de las Bodegas is located 160 kilometres northeast of Cádiz, in the rocky canyon of the Rio Trejo River. The town is often poetically said to have "the sky made of rocks".
The houses in Setenil de las Bodegas were carved into the rocks hundreds of years ago and rebuilt over the years. About 3,000 people live in the town.
Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the province of Cádiz. Tourists visit this town to admire the unique houses and taste chorizo sausage, which is considered the best in the entire region if it comes from here.
The town is also famous for its excellent pastries, and the local bars and restaurants are among the best in the area.
Ronda - another hit of Andalusia
It is recommended that you combine a trip to Setenil de las Bodegas with a visit to Ronda, one of the most charming towns in Andalusia.
The two towns are about 19 kilometres apart. Ronda, whose view is breathtaking, is home to 35,000 people. This town is situated on rocks reaching 750 metres above sea level, and the buildings, called casas colgadas, cling directly to the edge of the El Tajo gorge. Ronda is crossed by a monumental 100-metre bridge - Puente Nuevo, built in 1793 by José Martín de Aldehuela.
