Grazalema

Grazalema is a town of 2,050 people (2018) in the south-western Andalucia region of Spain. It is one of the largest 'white towns' (Spanish: pueblos blancos) of the Sierra la Grazalema national park, and is also Spain's wettest city.

Understand

Grazalema is the rainiest place in Andalusia. Because of this and because of the relative coolness, the Moorish rulers of Granada spent their summer months here. You have to be a little lucky to catch a sunny day.

The place was founded by the Moors in the 8th century and was first called Rais lami suli. Then it was renamed Hijo de Zulema, which later mutated to Grand Zulema, until the name Zagrazalema came about after the Christian Reconquista in 1485. In the 17th century Grazalema was a center of the textile industry with its many water mills. Today the place lives mainly from nature lovers tourism.

Get in

Grazalema is served by a bus line operated by the Los Amarillos bus company, which runs between Ubrique and Ronda.

By plane

Gibraltar, Jerez de la Frontera and Seville airports are all around 120 km away.

By train

The nearest train station is Ronda, approx. 35 km from Grazalema. Ronda is on the Spanish RENFE railway line from Bobadilla to Algeciras.

By car

Grazalema is on the A372, a narrow tar road between Ronda and El Bosque. From Ronda you drive on the A376 towards Sevilla and after approx. 15 km turn left towards Grazalema. After 500 m turn left again onto the A372 towards Grazalema. The narrow tar road leads through extensive cork oak forests. After 14 km you turn right and after 2 km you reach Grazalema. From Jerez take the A382 towards Ronda. At the height of Puerto Serranothe A382 becomes the A376 towards Ronda. Shortly after you have passed the reservoir of Zahara, a well-developed tar road branches off to the right in the direction of Zahara . After about 1 km a narrow tar road branches off to the left to Grazalema. This winding route offers beautiful views and leads 12 km uphill directly to Grazalema. From Seville , take the A376 towards Utrera and continue towards Ronda. Behind the reservoir of Zahara, it continues like from Jerez.

See

Town hall

Grazalema does not have much in the way of tourist sites. Visitors come here for hiking in the mountains.

Do

The highest mountains of the Sierra de Grazalema rise behind the town, and are a popular hiking destination. Although much lower than the Sierra Nevada further west, the rocky peaks here have a high alpine character. The mountainous landscape of the Sierra de Grazalema is also much more varied than the massive Sierra Nevada.

Two particularly good walks are those to El Salto del Cabrero (Goatherd's Leap) and the one past the Pinsapar (a wood containing a very rare Spanish fir) to Benamahoma.

Buy

There are two banks (both with ATMs that accept foreign cards) in the central Plaza de España.

Eat

There are plenty of restaurants in the centre of Grazalema.

• Restaurante Cadiz el Chico, Plaza de España, 8 (near the Town Hall), ☏ +34 956132067. Good selection of meats. It is not easy to pay more than €30/person. 

Sleep

• Hotel Peñón Grande, Plaza Pequeña, 7, ☏ +34 956123434, fax: +34 956132435, hotel@hotelgrazalema.es. Central but very quiet. €55/double room. 
• 1 Hotel Fuerte Grazalema, Baldío de los Alamillos Carretera A-372, km 53, ☏ +34 956 13 30 00. The Fuerte Grazalema Hotel is nestled within the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, found in the Cadiz province of Spain. 
• Villa Turistica De Grazalema, Finca Olivar, S / N, ☏ +34 956 132 136. 
• Hospederia Casa de las Piedras, Calle Las Piedras 32, ☏ +34 956 132 014. 
• Hotel Puerto de la Villa, Plaza Pequena 8, ☏ +34 956 132 376. 

Cope

• The state-run Centro de Salud health clinic is in Plaza Pequena and can be reached by phone at 956-132034. There is a pharmacy on Calle la piedra 37. It is open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 13:30 and from 17:00 to 20:00. Emergency services can be reached on 085.
• The post office (Correos), Calle José Maria Jiménez 8, phone 956132161.