A small European town is capturing the imagination of tourists because it is carved into a mountain – meaning its residents literally ‘live under a rock’. The beautiful Spanish town is wedged underneath the rocks of a gorge created by the stunning river, creating one of the world’s most unique living situations.
Described as a “lovely place” on Tripadvisor, the quirky town of Setenil de las Bodegas is a must-visit for lovers of Europe. Located in the south-western province of Cadiz, the settlement houses about 3,000 people, but welcomes plenty of tourists who enjoy the authentic Spanish cuisine of chorizo and other pig products.
But its biggest attraction is the rocky terrain which envelops the houses and streets, like some sort of alien spacecraft. The River Guadalporcun flows nearby and creates a lovely plain with cereal fields and olive trees.
Houses are built literally inside the caves – and there are plenty of other things to see. This includes the Arab Castle which was built during the 12th Century when the Almohad Caliphate occupied the lands – from the castle you can soak in the marvellous views of the village and the entire valley around it.
The town also has various churches – five in total – despite its tiny population. ‘Our Lady of the Incarnation’ church is perhaps the most important – built on top of the old mosque, its gothic architecture features elements from the Renaissance.
The local food in Setenil de las Bodegas is very unique too – with a wide range of cold meats, pork dishes, asparagus revueltos and sweet potato and honey dishes. It is so good that it actually supplies the famous town of Ronda (and others locally) with much of its fruit and vegetables.
Ronda is built on the edge of a vast cliff, next to a deep canyon in which the Guadalevin River flows. It is a postcard town in the province of Malaga and is visited by thousands of keen tourists every year.
