Free walking tours in Aguilar de la Frontera and what to see

Must-sees

Aguilar de la Frontera is in the Campiña Sur of Córdoba, among olive groves and vineyards of the Montilla-Moriles appellation. Its gem is the Plaza de San José, known to all as the plaza ochavada: an enclosed eight-sided neoclassical square with four covered entrances, rare in Spain. From there you climb towards Castle Hill, where remains of the fortress survive and Neolithic, Iberian and Roman finds have been made. On the way you'll see the Torre del Reloj, one of the town's most recognisable silhouettes.

At the top is the Gothic-Mudéjar parish church of Nuestra Señora del Soterraño, built, according to tradition, over the cave where the image of the Virgin appeared. The convent of San José y San Roque, one of the province's finest Baroque ensembles, is also worth seeing. About six kilometres away is the Laguna de Zóñar, a nature reserve and the most important wetland in southern Córdoba, ideal for watching waterbirds such as the white-headed duck.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free walking tours in Aguilar. What you will find is a visit to a local winery, with a tour of the facilities and a tasting of Montilla-Moriles wines, a good way to understand the wine culture of the countryside. For the heritage and the Laguna de Zóñar, the practical approach is to ask at the tourist office or combine the visit with excursions from Córdoba that cover several towns in the area.

How long to spend

The historic centre can be seen in a morning: the octagonal square, the Torre del Reloj, El Soterraño and the climb to Castle Hill. In the afternoon you can visit the Laguna de Zóñar, best late in the day for birds, or do the winery visit. A full day is enough, and if you want to get to know the area add another for Montilla and the Subbética villages.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Aguilar is limited, with a place or two in the centre and rural houses among the olive groves. Staying near the octagonal square lets you walk around the whole old town. If you can't find a room, Montilla is a few minutes away with more beds, and Lucena or Córdoba are good bases for a wider tour of the province.