Hidden Gems
Setenil de las Bodegas, Cadiz
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1 day in SETENIL DE LAS BODEGAS
Estimated time to visit: 4 hours (time for lunch not included)
The first thing any tourist should do in Setenil de las Bodegas is to walk around and enjoy Calle Cuevas del sol. As its name hints, the houses on this street are built on the rock and they receive sunlight most of the day. But this is not the only street worth seeing.
Setenil is located in the province of Cadiz and very close to the amazing city of Ronda.
Things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas
The best way to get to Setenil de las bodegas is by car. There is no train station and the closest bus station is located at 5 kilometers from Setenil.
Calle Cuevas del sol is located next to the river Trejo. The street is full of bars, some of with tables outside and noisy local atmosphere.
Once you have enjoyed your daily sun dose you can move to Calle de las Cuevas de Sombra. This street is very narrow and the rocks do not let the sun get in. Probably the lower temperatures in this street explain the presence of some grocery shops and cake shops.
Your itinerary can continue to Plaza de Andalucia and then to one of our favorite streets in Setenil: Calle Calcetas (great views from the stairs that lead to Calle Calcetas). Other interesting streets are, Calle Mina, Calle Herrería, Calle Jabonería, Calle Cabreriza, Calle Triana.
The second most interesting thing to enjoy in Setenil are the views from some of the viewpoints in the town. One of them is the tower of the old alcazar (from the almohade´s time – XII century) You will have to pay an entrance fee to enjoy its views. Other options are the viewpoints at the Church Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (built where a mosque stood) and the Lizón viewpoint. Another excellent viewpoints is from the road when you enter or leave Setenil de las bodegas.
History of Setenil de las Bodegas
Setenil de las bodegas is a small white village in southern Spain located in the province of Cadiz. Its surname says a lot about Setenil. “De las bodegas” refers to the many caves in the rocks of this village. Some of its houses are literally built on the rocks and it is easy to imagine Neolithic caves that served as dwellings for hunting groups.
If its surname offers a good description of its “looks” it is its name that speaks about its history. Setenil derives from the latin septem nihil or seven times nothing. The village was sieged up to seven times before it was conquered by the catholic troops at the very end of the reconquering process that ended with the fall of Granada in 1492. In the case of Setenil the last siege took place on 1484.
150 kilometers from Cádiz (2 hours drive) and 115 km from Seville and 95kms from Malaga and 18kms from Ronda
