Ubrique

About Ubrique

Ubrique fills a valley at about 340 metres where the Grazalema and Los Alcornocales natural parks meet, its houses climbing towards the rock wall of the Tajo. The Roman town of Ocuri stood on the nearby Salto de la Mora, and the Moors built the 12th-century castle of Cardela. Castile took Ubrique in 1485. Its historic centre is a Conjunto Histórico, and the town has about 16,600 inhabitants.

Steep lanes in the upper town lead to the church of Nuestra Señora de la O and the Fuente de los Nueve Caños, of Moorish origin. The 17th-century Convento de Capuchinos, beside the old tanneries, houses Manos y Magia en la Piel, a leather museum seen on booked guided tours. A path climbs about 1 km to Ocuri, whose ruins include a rare Roman columbarium tomb.

Ubrique is 50 km (1 hour) from Ronda, 78 km (1 hour 15 minutes) from Jerez and 117 km (1 hour 50 minutes) from Seville; buses run from Jerez and Cádiz. Park in the lower town and walk up, as the old quarter's lanes are steep and narrow. Allow half a day, or a full day with the old road to Benaocaz. It suits walkers, shoppers and history lovers.

Spring and autumn are best for walking; summer afternoons in the valley are hot. The feria is held in early September. Leather goods, from wallets to bags, are sold in workshops and shops across town. Try chacinas and payoyo cheese from the sierra. Tip: walk the Calzada Romana up to Benaocaz in the cool of the morning.

Ubrique in pictures

What you’ll find

• Bus connectionPublic transportBuy
• ChurchChurch visitFree
• FestivalAnnual festivalFree
• Guided tourGuided tourBook
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• Historic centreOld town walkFree
• Local craftsCraft shoppingBuy
• Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
• MuseumMuseum entry (08:30–14:30)Ticket
• Tourist officeVisitor informationFree
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

Benaocaz (3 km) is reached on foot along the Calzada Romana, an old stone road that climbs to its Nasrid quarter, and the fault cleft of Salto del Cabrero (3 km) lies on the trail beyond. Villaluenga del Rosario (6 km), the highest village in the province, is known for payoyo cheese. Across the Málaga border, Cueva de la Pileta (16 km) near Benaoján holds Palaeolithic paintings, and Cañón de las Buitreras (16 km) is a deep gorge of the Guadiaro used for canyoning.