Grazalema

Grazalema is a village in the northeast of the province of Cádiz (Andalusia / Spain) at the foot of the mountains of the Sierra del Pinar.

Traditionally, agriculture ( sheep, cork oaks, among others ) and crafts ( weaving, carpentry among other things) the livelihoods of Grazalemeños, as the inhabitants are called. Today, the agricultural areas are partly severely limited, since the place is surrounded by the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema. The surrounding Sierras (Spanish: mountain ranges ) are popular destinations for hikers and climbers, the latter is particularly the Peñón Grande interesting. Thus, tourism became an important source of income for many residents.

The origin of Grazalema goes back to a Roman settlement. In the centuries of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula, the town was further expanded. It was not until 1485, only seven years before the final end of the Moorish Al -Andalus, it was conquered during the Reconquista of the Catholic Spaniards. In the 17th century, the Baroque Church Parish Church was built.

Grazalema is one of the " white villages " of Andalusia; a number of villages and small towns, most dating back to Phoenician and Roman settlements were built by the Moors. Typical of these are the whitewashed houses and narrow winding streets, as they are also found in North Africa.

A notable feature is the climate of the place. Grazalema has with 2132 l / m on the highest annual rainfall of Spain and even a few kilometers away neighboring towns stood at only a quarter of that amount.