El Club · Zahara

The Arroyomolinos Recreational Area, also known as La Playita, is a recreational area located in Zahara de la Sierra, next to the Zahara reservoir and at the foot of Mount Prieto, in the surroundings of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It occupies an approximate area of 63,362 m², about 6.5 hectares, and takes advantage of the riverbed to form a small artificial inland beach, integrated into a landscape of orchards, woodland and mountain slopes. The most visible part for the visitor is the bathing area of treated water, with natural shade, tables, picnic areas and areas designed for the summer. The whole offers an unusual image in the Sierra de Cádiz: an aquatic and rest area that combines riverside, vegetation and sheet of water in an environment very close to the reservoir. It is also a point appreciated for its family atmosphere and for allowing recreational use beyond the summer season. Its interest lies in the fact that it converts a stretch of valley and riverbank into a leisure area that is well integrated into the landscape, without losing the mountainous character of the surroundings. The location, in the middle of the protected area of the Sierra de Grazalema, reinforces its landscape and tourist value, and explains why it is one of the most recognizable enclaves of Zahara de la Sierra.

The Chapel of San Juan de Letrán is a Catholic church or chapel located on San Juan Street in Zahara de la Sierra, in the province of Cádiz, within the town’s historic center. The sources consulted place it on the same site as a previous chapel, meaning that the current building is part of the historical continuity of the local religious space. The current church was built in 1958 on the site of the former chapel of the same name. Sources describe it as a neoclassical structure with a simple layout, featuring a single nave and a semicircular arched entrance, topped by three belfries. According to available descriptions, these bells were cast in the same year the church was built. A notable associated heritage feature is the Clock Tower, which is linked to the chapel and was repurposed as a bell tower. This is an older tower, dating from the 16th century, associated with the former fortified enclosure of Zahara de la Sierra. This complex reinforces the historical value of the site by bringing together contemporary religious architecture and defensive vestiges from the modern era. Today, the chapel stands as an urban and devotional landmark in the center of town, in a setting closely linked to Zahara’s historical memory and the evolution of its monumental landscape.

The Church of Santa María de la Mesa is the parish church of Zahara de la Sierra, in the province of Cádiz, located in the main square of the town’s historic district, within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It is a landmark religious building within the town’s heritage complex and is also closely tied to local processions and parish life. Sources indicate that it was built in the second half of the 18th century, reflecting the religious architecture of Andalusia during that period. Its stylistic language is primarily Baroque, with early Neoclassical features, a combination evident in the simplicity of certain lines contrasted with the ornamentation typical of the late Baroque period. Among its notable heritage elements are the bell tower, visible as an urban landmark; the Baroque façade; and the parish interior, which features items of interest such as the Baroque-style main altarpiece and the organ. Also worth noting is the preservation of a parish treasury, which reinforces its historical and artistic value within Zahara. The building is situated within a historic district of great interest, dominated by the town’s medieval and Al-Andalus heritage, featuring a castle, city walls, and a traditional urban layout. The current church occupies a central place in Zahara’s monumental landscape and is one of its most significant heritage attractions.

The Medieval Town Information Office is an interpretation center located in Zahara de la Sierra, in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, within the historic and heritage complex of the Medieval Town. Its main function is to serve as an information point for cultural visits to the site, as well as an exhibition space dedicated to interpreting the archaeological site and local heritage. The facility is situated in an area of great historical interest, associated with the ancient fortified town and the Keep. According to municipal sources, the tower features irregular masonry with courses of brick at varying heights, buttresses at the corners, and visible square arrowslits—elements that attest to its medieval defensive character. The office is directly connected to this heritage trail and to the tour of the historic site. The exact chronology of the building housing the office is not clearly specified in the sources consulted, although the entire complex points to the medieval occupation of the hill and to subsequent archaeological and restoration work. In practice, the space serves as a cultural gateway to the Medieval Village, providing historical context about the ancient settlement and the evolution of the present-day town of Zahara de la Sierra.

The Garganta Verde is a deep, narrow karst canyon carved out by the erosive action of the Bocaleones Stream in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Cádiz. Its vertical walls, which reach considerable heights, contrast with the lush vegetation of mosses, algae, and Mediterranean scrub that covers its slopes—hence its name, Garganta Verde. The trail ends at the Cueva de la Ermita, a gigantic natural vaulted cave with pink and green textures and colors on its walls, caused by the proliferation of algae on the rock. From the viewing point, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the gorge that separates Cerro Cambronero from the Sierra de Zafalgar, as well as one of Europe’s largest colonies of griffon vultures, which nest on small ledges along the vertical walls and circle overhead along the trail. The route is located within an area of great geomorphological and scenic interest, protected as part of the Natural Park, and access is regulated by prior administrative authorization. The best time to visit is from October through May; avoid the period from June through October due to the risk of wildfires and partial access restrictions.