Free walking tours in Setenil de las Bodegas and what to see

Must-sees

Setenil de las Bodegas is a white village in the Serranía de Ronda, known for its houses built beneath the rock. The river Trejo carved a gorge and the villagers made use of the natural overhangs to build homes, so the stone acts as the roof. The most photographed streets are Cuevas del Sol, with bars and terraces, and Cuevas de la Sombra, cooler and narrower.

In the upper part are the keep, all that remains of the Nasrid fortress that withstood several sieges, and the church of the Encarnación. From the viewpoints you can see the white houses wedged into the gorge. The village is small and has many slopes, so wear comfortable shoes.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours are uncommon in Setenil, although pay-what-you-like guided walks around the village are sometimes organised. More common are short guided visits through the streets under the rock and to the keep, and trips that include Setenil as part of a white villages route.

Very close are Ronda, with its Puente Nuevo and old town, and Olvera, with its castle. You can also visit the Roman site of Acinipo, known as Ronda la Vieja, which keeps part of its theatre. Many travellers take day trips from Málaga, Seville or the Costa del Sol that stop at Setenil and Ronda.

How long to spend

Three or four hours are enough for Setenil: a stroll through the streets under the rock, the climb to the keep and lunch on a terrace. If you stay the night, spend the next day on Ronda, Olvera or Acinipo. With two or three days you can tour several white villages in the Cádiz and Málaga sierras at leisure.

Where to stay

The best choice is to sleep in the village itself, near the streets under the rock. That way you explore it in the evening and first thing, when the tour groups have gone. Choice is small, mostly rural houses and apartments, and it pays to book at weekends and on long weekends. If you cannot find a room, Ronda has far more choice and is about twenty minutes away by car.