Day Trip: Ronda/Antequera/Montejaque/Setenil

Those with extra time in Seville or continuing on to Marbella, greater Malaga or Mallorca, should consider taking advantage of the interesting, lesser-known towns of Andalusia. Driving south from Seville, the landscape opens up into verdant countryside filled with green rolling hills, farmlands and vineyards. In just a one-and-a-half hour picturesque drive, travelers find themselves in unique mountainside villages with distinctive character and awe-inspiring topography.

Some beautiful little towns worth visiting include Montejaque, which offers sweeping views over the Sierras, and the astounding village of Setenil de las Bodegas, built into the rocks of a bluff set above a sharp bend in the narrow river gorge below. Not only are these places rich with Moorish and Roman history, but they also offer a sense of locality that can only be found in some of the world’s most remote places. The medieval town of Antequera is filled with church spires and Moorish fortress walls, and is overlooked by an enormous crag of limestone called The Lover’s Leap, so named after a local legend about an impossible and tragic love affair between a young Christian man and Moorish woman. The well-known town of Ronda is built at the top of a canyon with panoramic views over the valley below.

Perhaps the best part about exploring these small, remote towns is the local meal or winery visit that becomes part of your day. Enjoy, for instance, a delicious lunch at Almocobar, set in a quiet square away from the tourists in Ronda. Contact Indagare’s Bookings Team for tailor-made suggestions.