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 Letran is a church or hermitage of Catholic worship located on San Juan Street in Zahara de la Sierra, in the province of Cadiz, within the historic center of the municipality. The consulted documentation places it in the same location that occupied a previous hermitage, so the current building is part of the historical continuity of the local religious space. The present church was erected in 1958 on the site of the old hermitage of the same name. The sources consulted describe it as a work of neoclassical character and simple composition, with a single nave and a semicircular arch doorway, topped by three belfries. These bells, according to the available descriptions, were cast in the same year of construction. As an associated patrimonial element, the Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) stands out, which is linked to the chapel and was reused as a bell tower. It is an earlier tower, dating from the sixteenth century, linked to the old fortified enclosure of Zahara de la Sierra. This set reinforces the historical value of the enclave, bringing together contemporary religious architecture and defensive vestiges of modern times. The chapel is now an urban and devotional landmark in the center of town, in an environment closely linked to the historical memory of Zahara and the evolution of its monumental landscape.

The Church of Santa Maria de la Mesa is the parish church of Zahara de la Sierra, in the province of Cadiz, located in the main square of the historic center of the municipality, in the surroundings of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It is a religious temple of reference within the heritage of the town, also linked to the local parish and processional life. The sources consulted place its construction in the second half of the eighteenth century, within the Andalusian religious architecture of that period. Its stylistic language is mainly baroque, with the presence of the first neoclassical features, a combination that can be appreciated in the sobriety of some lines as opposed to the ornamentation typical of the late baroque. Among its outstanding patrimonial elements are the bell tower, visible as an urban landmark, the baroque façade and the parish interior, where pieces of interest such as the main altarpiece, in baroque style, and the organ are mentioned. The conservation of a parish treasure is also mentioned, which reinforces its historical-artistic value within Zahara. The building is integrated in a nucleus of great historical interest, dominated by the medieval and Andalusian heritage of the municipality, with castle, walls and traditional urban layout. The present church occupies a central space in the monumental image of Zahara and is one of its most important heritage tourism resources.

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 a location of significant 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 route and to visits to 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 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 Green Gorge Trail is a short hiking route located in Zahara, in the province of Cadiz, within the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It runs through the Garganta Verde, a canyon carved by the erosive action of the Bocaleones stream, with very vertical walls and a landscape of strong contrast between rock, vegetation and shady areas. The route is associated with an enclave of great geomorphological and scenic interest, and its access is regulated by administrative authorization. The highlight of the route is the view of the narrow canyon and the arrival at the Cueva de la Ermita or Ermita de la Garganta, a large cavity of karst origin that marks the end of the trail for recreational use. During the walk you can observe limestone cliffs, well-preserved Mediterranean vegetation and, frequently, griffon vultures, a species closely linked to these rocky walls. Its interest is not only scenic: it is part of one of the most valuable natural areas of the Cadiz mountains for its biodiversity and environmental protection. Several sources describe it as one of the most emblematic landscapes of the province of Cadiz and an enclave of special relevance for birds of prey and the interpretation of the limestone relief. The route is usually listed as a route of high or medium-high difficulty due to the unevenness and the steepness of the terrain, although its length is short. It is a very appreciated resource by demanding visitors due to the intensity of the landscape in a short distance and the combination of geology, fauna and vegetation in the same itinerary.