Zufre
Zufre is a white village of about 740 people strung along a limestone cliff above the Rivera de Huelva in the Sierra de Aracena, with Almohad wall towers and a town hall of 1570.
About Zufre
Zufre lies at about 450 metres on the south slope of the Cerro de la Solana, its houses lined along a limestone escarpment above the Rivera de Huelva and its reservoir. Its name, from Arabic for 'tribute', and its 12th-century Almohad walls date the town's shape to the Islamic period. Declared a Conjunto Histórico in 2002, it has about 740 people.
The Paseo de los Alcaldes, called the Balcón de la Sierra, is a cliff-top promenade with a tiled fountain and long views. Plaza de la Iglesia holds the town hall, finished in 1570 and attributed to Hernán Ruiz, with an arcaded loggia, and the Renaissance Fuente del Concejo. The church of the Purísima Concepción has a post-1755 Baroque tower, and about 300 metres of Almohad wall survive, with the Torre de las Harinas.
Zufre is about 80 km (1 hour 10 minutes) north-west of Seville and 25 km east of Aracena. Park at the entrance near the Paseo; the old centre is a long ridge of stepped, cobbled lanes, unsuitable for wheelchairs, though the Paseo is level. Allow two hours, more with a walk to the springs. It suits photographers and walkers.
Spring, when the dehesas flower, and autumn are best; summer middays are hot on the exposed cliff. The romerías and feria of the Virgen del Puerto are the main festivals. Try menudo, gazpacho with asaduras, Iberian chacinas and pestiños. Tip: follow the Ruta del Agua to the village's fountains and washhouses.
Zufre in pictures
What you’ll find
- ChurchChurch visitFree
- FestivalAnnual festivalFree
- Hiking trailHikingFree
- Historic centreOld town walkFree
- Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
- Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
- ViewpointSightseeingFree
Nearby places to visit
West across the sierra, Aracena holds the Aracena Castle and Priory Church (21 km) on its hill and the Gruta de las Maravillas (21 km) beneath it, a show cave of lakes on three levels. Beyond, Linares de la Sierra (25 km) is a valley village paved with pebble mosaics, and the Peña de Arias Montano (29 km) is one of the sierra's finest viewpoints. On the way back to the city, the Itálica Roman City (51 km) at Santiponce, birthplace of Trajan, makes a good stop with its amphitheatre and mosaics.
Zufre at a glance
Category
Culture White villages
Location
Sierra de Huelva, Huelva
Town
Zufre
Address
Plaza de la Iglesia, 21210 Zufre, Huelva, Spain
Opening hours
Open access; the streets, Paseo de los Alcaldes and fountains can be visited at any time. The church opens mainly for services.
Prices
Free
Website
zufre.es
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Zufre, nearest first.
