Teba

About Teba

Teba lies at about 555 metres on the southern slope of a ridge crowned by the Castillo de la Estrella, looking over the rolling campiña of the Guadalteba. The Moorish fortress guarded the Nasrid frontier until Alfonso XI of Castile besieged it in 1330. Among his allies was Sir James Douglas, who was killed in the fighting while carrying the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce on crusade; the castle fell soon after. About 3,700 people live in Teba today.

The castle covers some 25,000 square metres, with long stretches of wall, towers and a tall square keep; its interpretation centre, Una Cruzada en el Guadalteba, tells the story of 1330 (from €2). Below, the large parish church of Santa Cruz Real dominates the white streets, and a granite monument to Douglas stands in the town. The Museo Histórico Municipal displays archaeological finds from the district.

Teba is 70 km from Málaga airport (1 hour) via the A-357, and 55 km from Ronda. Park in the lower town or on the road up to the castle; the climb is steep and the castle paths are rough, so not for wheelchairs, though the town centre is gentler. Allow two to three hours. It suits history lovers and walkers.

Spring and autumn are best; in summer visit the castle early. The Douglas Days in late August bring Scottish music and an open day at the monuments. Try lamb, migas and the olive oil of the campiña. Tip: the interpretation centre opens Thursday to Sunday mornings only.

Teba in pictures

What you’ll find

• Car parkParkingFree
• CastleCastle entry (€2, 10:00–15:00)Ticket
• ChurchChurch visitFree
• FestivalAnnual festivalFree
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• Historic centreOld town walkFree
• Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
• MuseumFree museumFree
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

Teba is a good base for the Guadalteba lakes and gorges. The Caminito del Rey (13 km) begins near the reservoirs south-east of the town, and the Cueva de Ardales (13 km) preserves Palaeolithic paintings on guided tours. Bobastro Church and Ruins (16 km) is the rock-cut church of the 9th-century rebel stronghold. To the west, the Castillo de Olvera (31 km) crowns another white town across the Cádiz border, while Casarabonela (23 km) and its Andalusi quarter lie to the south, beyond Ardales.