White villages of Andalusia
Explore the white villages of Andalusia — pueblos blancos — from the Sierra de Cádiz to the Axarquía and the Alpujarras. Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil form a Cádiz cluster, while Frigiliana and Capileira offer two different areas to explore farther east in southern Spain.
| Place | Area | Terrain | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grazalema | Sierra de Cádiz | Mountain | Whitewashed mountain village in Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park |
| Zahara de la Sierra | Sierra de Cádiz | Mountain | Beneath a Moorish castle ruin, above a turquoise reservoir |
| Setenil de las Bodegas | Sierra de Cádiz | Gorge | Streets built directly under overhanging rock |
| Frigiliana | Axarquía (Málaga coast) | Hillside | Historic Moorish quarter above Nerja |
| Capileira | Alpujarras (Sierra Nevada) | Mountain | Highest of the three Poqueira gorge villages; Sierra Nevada mountain setting |
Grazalema — Grazalema is a whitewashed mountain village in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, surrounded by the green hills and limestone scenery of the Sierra de Cádiz.
Zahara de la Sierra — Zahara de la Sierra climbs beneath the ruins of a Moorish castle, overlooking a turquoise reservoir that now floods what was once the valley floor — one of the smaller, steeper villages on the route.
Setenil de las Bodegas — Setenil de las Bodegas is built directly under and into overhanging rock along the Río Trejo canyon; entire streets run beneath a stone ceiling rather than open sky.
Frigiliana — Frigiliana sits in the Axarquía hills above Nerja on Málaga's coast. Its whitewashed lanes and historic Moorish quarter offer a different setting from the Cádiz cluster.
Capileira — Capileira is the highest of the three Poqueira gorge villages in Las Alpujarras, on the southern flank of Sierra Nevada, with whitewashed houses and characteristic flat roofs.
5 villages
No. 052
Grazalema
No. 060
Zahara de la Sierra
No. 059
Setenil de las Bodegas
No. 050
Frigiliana
No. 048
Capileira
Practical combinations
The Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos: Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil
Grazalema, Zahara de la Sierra and Setenil form the Cádiz cluster. Grazalema and Zahara are about 8 km (straight line) apart. This straight-line distance is not a road distance; check the route before planning your stops.
Frigiliana from the coast
Frigiliana is about 133 km (straight line) from Zahara de la Sierra. This is a straight-line distance, not a road distance. Its location above Nerja makes the eastern Costa del Sol the relevant area to explore.
Capileira and the Alpujarras
Capileira is about 52 km (straight line) from Frigiliana. This is a straight-line distance, not a road distance. It belongs to the Poqueira gorge in the Alpujarras, a separate area from the Cádiz cluster.
Choose an area first, then explore each village page for its location, sources, nearby places and accommodation options.