Zahara de la Sierra is a white village on the slope of a rock, with the Zahara-El Gastor reservoir below. It is one of the stops on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos and has been a listed historic site since 1983. The town hall describes its streets as wide viewpoints, and on the way up you see why.
The castle and the Torre del Homenaje
The walk up to the castle is the reason to come. The medieval village and its defences date from the 13th to the 15th centuries, and the keep, the Torre del Homenaje, stands on the highest point of the rock, at 605 metres. Its architecture mixes Nasrid and Christian military features. Castile first took Zahara in 1407, and Rodrigo Ponce de León conquered it for good in 1483.
The keep is free and, according to the Diputación de Cádiz, open all day, all year. The path from the village is steep and uneven, so wear proper shoes; allow about 15 minutes to walk up. The tower of the medieval village, probably from the 15th century, would have belonged to the old Iglesia Mayor. It is partly restored and due to become an interpretation centre.
- Price: free.
- Opening: all day, all year.
- Walk: about 15 minutes uphill from the village centre.
In the village
The Iglesia de Santa María de la Mesa was completed in 1755 by the architect Antonio Matías de Figueroa. Look at the main door, a baroque portal in pink marble; inside, the high altarpiece is baroque too. The church can be visited during service hours.
The Torre del Reloj, the clock tower, is the only part left of the 16th-century hermitage of San Juan de Letrán, on Boquete de San Juan. Its name comes from a pendulum clock added later. The Capilla de San Juan de Letrán, a small church built in 1958 and also called the Ermita de San Juan de Letrán, opens every day, morning and afternoon.
La Playita, by the reservoir
The Arroyomolinos recreational area, known as La Playita, has a small bathing beach on the reservoir. There is a bar-restaurant, barbecues, a play area, and sunbeds and tables to rent, with lifeguards and first aid in the bathing area. The town hall stresses that it is open all year, not only in summer.
It is the place to finish the day after the climb to the castle.
The Garganta Verde and the Puerto de las Palomas
The Garganta Verde is a narrow gorge in the municipality of Zahara, home to a large colony of griffon vultures. The trail is about 2.4 km one way, takes around an hour and a half and is rated difficult. You need a permit from the Junta de Andalucía: request it through the Junta's booking application or from the El Bosque visitor centre. The usual options are authorised from 16 October to 31 May; some close from 1 June to 15 October because of the fire risk.
The trail starts beside the CA-9104, the road from Zahara to Grazalema. The same road crosses the Puerto de las Palomas, a mountain pass with a viewpoint at 1,189 metres.
- Permit: El Bosque visitor centre, +34 956 709 733, [email protected].
- Season: usual options from 16 October to 31 May.
- Trail: about 2.4 km one way, about 1h30, difficult.
How to get from Ronda to Zahara
The car is the practical way. Leave Ronda on the A-374 towards Algodonales, then take the CA-9104 to Zahara: about 35 km, a little over half an hour. The alternative through Grazalema and the Puerto de las Palomas is a mountain road with many bends: allow more time.
Park in the public car park at the entrance to the village and walk up: the streets are narrow and steep. When you get back to Ronda, our guide to parking in Ronda lists the car parks closest to the centre.
Transportes Comes appears on the ticket platforms for Ronda to Zahara, but we could not find a reliable timetable, so check with the operator before counting on the bus.
- Route: A-374 towards Algodonales, then CA-9104.
- Distance and time: about 35 km, a little over 30 minutes.
- Parking: public car park at the village entrance.
Zahara and the white villages around Ronda
Zahara pairs well with Setenil de las Bodegas, the village under the rock, for a day of white villages by car from Ronda. If you are coming from Seville, Zahara is close to the route at Algodonales: see our guide from Seville to Ronda.
For everything to see in Ronda itself, see what to see in Ronda, and our selection of hotels in Ronda if you are making Ronda your base.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zahara de la Sierra castle free to visit?
Yes. The Torre del Homenaje, the keep at the top of the rock, is free and, according to the Diputación de Cádiz, open all day, all year.
How long is the walk up to the castle?
About 15 minutes from the village centre, on a steep and uneven path. Wear proper shoes.
Can you swim in the Zahara reservoir?
Yes, at La Playita, the Arroyomolinos recreational area, which has a small bathing beach on the reservoir with lifeguards and first aid in the bathing area. It also has a bar-restaurant and sunbeds to rent, and the town hall says it is open all year.
