Parque Natural de Grazalema - Provincia de Cadiz, Naturaleza y Turismo Interior

The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is part of the most western massif of the Ronda mountain ranges and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in southern Spain . It includes part of the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga.

It was declared a Natural Park in a decree issued by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia in December 1984 and was the first of its type of in our autonomous community. In 1977, it was declared a Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO and a Special Protection Zone for Birds (ZEPA) in 1989.

It is between 289 and 1,654 metres above sea level. It has the highest rainfall rate in the Iberian Peninsula , with an annual average over 2,000 litres per square metre, which, together with the limestone terrain, has shaped a limestone landscape with many rugged areas, grottos, caves and winding gorges. One of the outstanding areas is the Sierra del Pinar with its important Spanish Fir forest, a tree that is believe to be a relic of the Tertiary era. The La Garganta Verde (Green Gorge) is another part of its legendary landscapes. Its sheer vertical rocky walls rise up over 400 metres and are home to some of the park's most unusual species of fauna and flora. It contains the highest point in the province of Cadiz , El Torreón, at 1,654 metres.

	Algodonales	Benaocaz
	Villaluenga del Rosario	El Bosque
	El Gastor	Prado del Rey
	Ubrique	Zahara de la Sierra
	Grazalema

The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is considered to be one of the areas of greatest ecological value in the south of the peninsula. Its vegetation is typically Mediterranean , where holm, cork and gall oaks, carob and wild olive trees predominate.

The Park's most outstanding feature in terms of flora is the Spanish Fir, a true living fossil that only grows over 1,000 metres high. The Sierra del Pinar contains the best conserved forests of this fir tree that is exclusive to the Serrania de Ronda mountains, even though odd specimens of this species can be found in nearby mountain ranges.

Elms, willows, ash trees and poplars form a gallery forest along the banks of the rivers and streams. All these species can be found in the Botanical Garden at the nearby town of "El Bosque".

\| COMMON NAME	\| SCIENTIFIC NAME	\| FACT \| SHEET
\| Acebuches	\| Olea Europea
\| Álamos	\| Populus Alba
\| Alcornoques	\| Quercus Suber
\| Algarrobos	\| Ceratonia Siliqua
\| Encinas	\| Quercus Ilex
\| Fresnos	\| Fraxinus Angustifolia
\| Olmos	\| Ulmus Minor
\| Pinsapo	\| Abies Pinsapo
\| Quejigos	\| Quercus Faginea
\| Sauces	\| Salix Sp.

Special mention should be made of the Griffon Vulture, which has one of its largest nesting colonies in Europe here, together with birds of preys of great ecological value, such as the Egyptian Vulture, the Golden Eagle and Bonelli's Eagle.

Beavers, red deer , roe deer and mountain goats share the territory in perfect harmony with a wide range of mammals, reptiles, fish and amphibians.

There are numerous places of interest to visit in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, such as El Pinsapar, La Garganta Verde or Los Llanos del Republicano.

The ruins of Muslim buildings, such as the village of Archite in Benanocz, and Roman settlements, such as the cities of Iptuci (Prado del Rey) and Ocurri (Ubrique) are scattered through the area.

All the towns in the park have a wide range of cultural attractions. Their immaculate appearance explains why these villages are included in the Route of the White Villages. As far as its rich historical heritage is concerned, its outstanding examples include its Roman roads, its Baroque churches or the castle at Zahara de la Sierra.

Closely linked to the rural life in these municipal districts that make up this beautiful Natural Park, activities and typical customs have been passed down from generation to generation, such as the traditional weaving of wool blankets (Grazalema), leather making (Ubrique and Prado del Roy), items made out of cork, ceramics, basket making and producing honey.

The cuisine is another of the many cultural values of the Sierra de Cadiz. Typical dishes include the homemade sausages, soups, cheeses and homemade confectionery, such as the suspiros de Benaocaz (egg and almond sponges), gachas (sweet porridge), amarguillos de almendra (almond cookies), cubiletes (milk sponge cakes),etc. Many festivities are held in these mountain towns throughout the year: pilgrimages, the Toro de Cuerda, which involves fighting a bull tied to a rope, in towns such as Grazalema, Benaocaz and Villaluenga, the summer fairs and festivities or Corpus Christi in Zahara de la Sierra and El Gastor, both declared to be of National Tourist Interest.

\| COMMON NAME	\| SCIENTIFIC NAME	\| FACT \| SHEET
\| BIRDS	.	.
\| Águila Calzada	\| Hieraetus Pennatus
\| Águila Imperial	\| Aquila Adalberti
\| Águila Ratonera	\| Buteo Buteo
\| Azor	\| Accipiter Gentilis
\| Búho Real	\| Bubo Bubo
\| Buitre Leonado	\| Gyps Fulvus
\| Mochuelo Común	\| Athene Noctua
\| Perdiz	\| Alectori Rufa
\| MAMMALS	.	.
\| Cabra Montés	\| Capra Pyrenaica
\| Corzo	\| Caprelous Caprelous
\| Gineta	\| Genetta Genetta
\| Meloncillo	\| Herpestes Ichneumon
\| Murciélago	\| Pipistrellus Pipistrellus
\| Nutria	\| Lutra Lutra
\| Zorro	\| Vulpes Vulpes
\| AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES		.
\| Lagarto Ocelado	\| Lacerta Lepida
\| Salamandra	\| Salamandra Salamandra
\| Sapillo Pintojo	\| Discoglosus Galgoni
\| Vibora Hocicuda	\| Vipera Latastei
\| FISH	.	.
\| Anguila	\|
\| Barbo	\|
\| Boga	\|
\| Trucha	\|

The province's inland region is an exceptional setting for sports as it has a wide variety of landscapes and a mild climates. Plains, gorges, caves and sheer slopes, natural settings for hiking, climbing, bungee jumping, canyoning, horse or donkey trekking, paragliding, canoeing and other adventure sports.