Free walking tours in Cabra and what to see

Must-sees

Cabra is in the heart of the Córdoba Subbética, at the foot of the mountains that bear its name and within the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park, recognised as a UNESCO Geopark. Its historic centre is split between two quarters of whitewashed houses, the medieval Villa and El Cerro. In the Villa are the castle of the Counts of Cabra, built in Moorish times over Roman remains, and the parish church of La Asunción y Ángeles, built over an old mosque and known for its columns as the mosque of the Baroque.

Below, the Fuente del Río park marks the source of the river Cabra and is the coolest spot in town. The great viewpoint is outside town: the hermitage of the Virgen de la Sierra, on El Picacho at over 1,200 metres, called the balcony of Andalusia because on clear days you can see several provinces. Cabra is also the birthplace of the writer Juan Valera.

Free tours and guided visits

Cabra does have a free walking tour of the historic centre, a good way to get your bearings on the first day. There is also a paid guided tour, with more time at the monuments, and a private tour if you prefer to go just with your group at your own pace. For the mountains and El Picacho, most people drive up on their own or take a hiking route.

How long to spend

A morning is enough for the historic centre and the Fuente del Río, especially if you do the free walking tour. Keep the afternoon for going up El Picacho to watch the sunset from the hermitage. With two days you can add a route in the Sierra de Cabra or visit Zuheros, Priego de Córdoba or Lucena, all a short drive away.

Where to stay

The most convenient choice is to sleep in the centre, between the Villa quarter and the Fuente del Río area, where there are small hotels and apartments and everything is on foot. If you want peace, there are rural cottages and farmhouses around the mountains, with views over the olive groves. At busy times, Lucena, a few kilometres away, has more choice.