10 Best Places To Visit And Things To Do In Setenil De Las Bodegas

What best things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas? One of the most beautiful villages in Spain, has some of the best places to visit and things to do. With this list, you won’t miss a thing, and you’ll have a blast.

Located in a unique position, around a canyon carved by the waters of the Guadalporcún river, this village is an essential stop on the famous route of the White Villages of Cadiz that stands out for its houses under large rocks that form an urban fabric of great beauty.

This uniqueness and its well-kept historic center have made it one of the most beautiful villages in Spain and one of the most visited in Andalusia.

Although you can visit it in a few hours, it is recommended that you spend the night and take advantage of the early morning and late afternoon hours to get to know it better.

Based on the experience of the time we spent in this town in Cadiz during our last route through Andalusia by car and located among the most beautiful places to see in Andalusia, we have made this list of what we believe are the 10 places to visit in Setenil de las Bodegas essential. Let’s start!

Here is the list of best places to visit and things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas:

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Page Contents

10 Best Places To Visit and Things To Do In Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain

1. Cuevas del Sol Street

One of the best things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas is to leave the car in the Paseo Federico García Lorca and start visiting the Calle Cuevas del Sol, located in the lower part of the village.

This street, which is so named for having the sun-facing practically all day, is the best known and busiest of the village and stands out for its cave houses built under large rocks that protect them from the sun for much of the day.

AnSetenil de las Bodegas is also known for its many terrace bars and restaurants, such as Bar Frasquito, one of the most recommended places where to eat in Setenil de las Bodegas.

Several bridges cross the Trejo River and some points of the Calle de la Sombra, including the terrace of the Bar Sol Y Sombra, from which you can see the rows of white houses and the impressive rock formations. Cuevas del Sol Street is at the top of our list of best places to visit in Setenil de las bodegas.

2. Cuevas de la Sombra Street

One of the most beautiful places to see in Setenil de las Bodegas is the Calle Cuevas de la Sombra, characterized by a large rock suspended between two rows of houses that does not allow light to enter.

Located just opposite the Calle Cuevas del Sol, this photographically beautiful street offers several souvenir shops and a recommended tapas bar, Sol y Sombra, which is perfect for learning about the gastronomy of this town.

3. More streets with houses built in rock shelters

Cuevas de Sol and Cuevas de Sombra are not the only streets that have made this village one of Spain’s most striking and picturesque. There are several streets around the village where the rocks are a natural part of the roof.

For example, I recommend you to approach in the upper part of the village as Calle Calle Callejón, Calle Jabonería, Calle Mina or Calle Cabrerizas. Or in the lower part of the village in Calle San Román.

Anyway, I suggest you not get too crazy with the names of the streets because it will be very easy to find them as you walk through the village. Setenil is a town to wander around and enjoy without rushing.

4. Viewpoint of Carmen

Once you have walked along with the Calle Cuevas de la Sombra, you can return to the Calle Cuevas del Sol that will take you, up some narrow stairs, to the Mirador del Carmen, another of the best places to visit in Setenil de las Bodegas.

From this viewpoint, located on top of a rock, you will have fantastic panoramic views of the entire urban fabric. The whitewashed white houses stand out on the slope of a hill presided over by the Torre del Homenaje, the Wall, and the church of the Encarnación.

Located behind the viewpoint is the Ermita de Nuestra Senora del Carmen, a church from the eighteenth century that houses the image of the town’s patron saint.

5. Andalusia Square

Another of the best things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas is to drink on one of the terraces of the Plaza de Andalusia. This is the heart of the upper part of the village.

This square, which you can access by the stairs of Herrería street, is surrounded by buildings with white facades, among which the Town Hall and the Tourist Office stand out. Going to Andalusia square is a unique thing to do in Setenil de las bodegas.

6. El Lizón Viewpoint

In a privileged position, the Mirador del Lizón, located at the foot of the Torre del Homenaje, offers fantastic views of the village. It is another of the must-see places in Setenil de las Bodegas.

The view from this point is different from the viewpoint of Carmen. This allows you to see the houses and streets configured at different height levels from a side perspective. Therefore, it is also well worth a visit. Enjoying the amazing view from the El Lizon viewpoint is one of the unique things to do in Setenil de las bodegas.

7. The Tower and the Aljibe of Setenil

After a tour of the viewpoints of Setenil, you will have realized that there is a place that stands out above the whole village. It is the Torreón. And is that Setenil de las Bodegas, as I mentioned at the beginning, is a town whose history cannot be ignored.

The history of this town dates back to the time of the Catholic Monarchs, in which the conquest of the city was essential to regain Granada.

The conquest was not easy, but it took them seven sieges to accomplish it. That is why the name Setenil comes from “Septem nihil,” which means seven times nothing. Seven times they didn’t even eat the snot.

This ancient Nasrid fortress is one of the few in Spain that preserves its entire medieval urban fabric. In the basement of this citadel is the Arab cistern, responsible for supplying water to the fortress.

But be aware that the history of Setenil does not only go back to the Middle Ages. Paleolithic men once inhabited the caves where the houses are located today.

Proof of this is the Damita de Setenil, 5,000-year-old Paleolithic venus that has its own house. Yes, as you can see. You can visit the house of the Damita de Setenil, very close to the Torreón. Here you will find the museum that traces the history of the village since ancient times.

8.Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación

The church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, built between the XV and XVII centuries on the old mosque of the medieval village, is another of the most beautiful places to see in Setenil de las Bodegas.

With some elements of the Renaissance and remains of the Mudejar, this late Gothic temple consists of a Latin cross plan and an altar that houses the beautiful altarpiece of the Annunciation of the late fifteenth century.

9. Visit the Hermitage of San Benito – A great thing to do in Setenil de las Bodegas.

One of the best things to do in Setenil de las Bodegas is to stroll down Calle Velchez followed by Calle San Benito, which has a beautiful Moorish door in one of the houses until you get to the Ermita de San Benedicto.

This church, whose date of construction is unknown, stands out for its simplicity and classical style, besides housing the image of Padre Jesús Nazareno, one of the most venerated carvings of the town.

10.Excursions from Setenil de las Bodegas

Once you have completed the list of important places to see in Setenil de las Bodegas, you can make an excursion to some of the closer wonders, such as the beautiful city of Ronda or the spectacular Caminito del Rey.

If you choose the first option, we recommend you follow this guide of places to see in Ronda, while if you choose the second one, follow this guide to do the Caminito del Rey.

If you do not want to take the car and are a hiking lover, we suggest you take the Route of the Bandoleros, a route of 11 kilometers that starts from Senil and reaches the fascinating Roman ruins at Acinipo.

Other hiking routes of less duration and difficulty are the Escarpments of the Trejo River (5 kilometers) and the Mills (3.5 kilometers).

How to get to Setenil de las Bodegas?

If you are reading this, ,you have also concluded that you want to see this town in person and experience its whimsical rocky forms. The first question that will arise (and that I am going to solve right now) is how to get to Setenil de las Bodegas.

Setenil is in the Sierra de Cádiz, in the deep Cádiz, and is part of the network of white villages of Cádiz. I admit it. I have a weakness for all the white villages of Andalusia . I drool over the Sierra de Cadiz.

You can get to Setenil de las Bodegas from the most important cities of Cadiz in about an hour and a half. Cadiz is an hour and 45 minutes away, and Jerez de la Frontera is an hour and a half.

You can also reach Setenil de las Bodegas from the province of Malaga:

Ronda is a 30-minute drive from Setenil. Many people visit Setenil and Ronda on the same day. For my taste, it is a bit rushed, but it can be done. If you dare to go, I also recommend reading this article about the best places to see in Ronda.

Marbella is 75 kilometers from Setenil. It takes about an hour and a half to get there. Keep in mind that, although there are few kilometers, the A-397 has many curves, and the journey is a bit tedious.

Where to eat the best foods in Setenil de las Bodegas?

You cannot leave Setenil de las Bodegas without tasting the gastronomy of Cádiz. I love it. Setenil is known for its typical gazpachouelos, cortijeras soup, breadcrumbs, and scrambled asparagus.

The best place to eat in Setenil de las bodegas is in one of the bars on Cuevas de Sol: for example, Bar Fresquito, La Bodeguita, Cafeteria Sol or La Tasca.

Cuevas de Sombra is the perfect place to get a dessert or a typical sweet from one of the bakeries on this street. Would anyone like some cortadillos, some empanadillas, or some rosquillas?

Looking for a hotel in Setenil de las Bodegas?

If you decide to have a rural dream weekend, I recommend you stay at Setenil, so you have the chance to explore the surroundings. Since I was left with a desire, I would appreciate it if you did not suffer the same fate. You know I’m a fan of different experiences, so I recommend sleeping in a cave house.

Would you be afraid to sleep in a house whose bordering roof is a giant rock? Or where the back wall goes directly to the rock? I find it to be the most unique.

A good option in the center is the Casa Cueva El Arrabal. A rural apartment to spend a luxury weekend. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most charming hotels in Andalusia.

Another option, also in the center, is the Casa Entre Rocas. From the window of some of its rooms, you can see the rock formations of Setenil de las Bodegas in their purest form.

What to see near Setenil de las Bodegas?

As I mentioned before, one of the best places to see near Setenil de las Bodegas is Ronda, one of the most beautiful villages in Malaga, and it is only 30 minutes away by car. It seems to be a perfect plan to combine these two villages.

You can make a “perfect mix” 2×1 of Ronda + Setenil. Still, suppose you prefer to focus better on visiting Setenil de las Bodegas (which, by the way, has little Bodegas). In that case, I propose other excellent plans to do near Setenil de las Bodegas:

The Bandoleros route starts from Setenil to the Roman ruins of Acinipo, one of the oldest Roman theaters in Spain.

The Mills route starts from Setenil, following the river’s course to Alcalá del Valle, passing through the old flour mills.

Grazalema is 45 minutes drive from Setenil de las Bodegas and is another of the essential villages on the route of the white villages of Cadiz.

Zahara de la Sierra is a village built at the foot of a castle and has spectacular views of the Guadalete River Reservoir. It is located 40 minutes from Setenil de las Bodegas.

And this is the end of this tour of the best places to visit in Setenil de las Bodegas. What do you think of this village in Cadiz?