Alcalá de los Gazules

About Alcalá de los Gazules

Alcalá rises on a conical hill on the western edge of Los Alcornocales, one of Europe's largest cork-oak forests. The Moorish fortress took its surname from the Gazules, a Berber group; Alfonso X captured it in the 13th century. The Bronze of Lascuta, the oldest Roman inscription found in Spain, now in the Louvre, came from its land. A Conjunto Histórico since 1985, Alcalá has about 5,200 inhabitants.

Plaza de San Jorge, the Plaza Alta, holds the church of San Jorge, rebuilt in the 16th century with three naves and a fine choir, and the mid-16th-century Casa del Cabildo, with a façade of contrasting colours. The castle tower and stretches of wall stand close by. Lower down are the 17th-century cloister of Santa Clara and old wells and fountains.

Alcalá is 52 km (45 minutes) from Jerez, 59 km (55 minutes) from Cádiz and 137 km (1 hour 40 minutes) from Seville; Comes buses serve the town. Park near Paseo de la Playa and walk up the steep, cobbled streets, which are hard going for wheelchairs. Allow two hours, or a day with a walk in the park. It suits walkers, birdwatchers and lovers of quiet towns.

Spring is best, when the cork forest is green and rhododendrons flower in its valleys. The romería to the Santuario de los Santos, 5 km away, is the main pilgrimage. Try retinto beef and game, and look for dornillos, carved wooden bowls. Tip: the El Aljibe visitor centre outside town has displays on the park and a botanic garden.

Alcalá de los Gazules in pictures

What you’ll find

• Bus connectionPublic transportBuy
• CastleCastle visitFree
• ChurchChurch visitFree
• FestivalAnnual festivalFree
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• Historic centreOld town walkFree
• Local craftsCraft shoppingBuy
• Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
• Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
• Tourist officeVisitor informationFree
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

West across the farmland, Medina Sidonia (18 km) crowns its hill, and the Museum and Archaeological Complex of Medina Sidonia (19 km) shows Roman galleries beneath it. The road east through the cork forest leads to Jimena de la Frontera (25 km) and its Almohad castle, and on to Castillo de Castellar (29 km), a village inside Nasrid walls. Closer to town, the El Picacho recreation area on the Ubrique road is the start of the climbs up El Picacho and the Aljibe, which need a permit from the park office.