Overview
The Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche natural park is a huge 184,000 ha. Its habitats are varied, with its high rocky peaks, valleys swathed in wood and gentle rolling hills. It has a predominately wooded landscape which consists of mainly Mediterranean oak. This Natural Park is a walkers paradise with many well-marked routes.
Walking
There is a tourist office in Aracena. Here you can obtain maps and books (in Spanish) relating to the walks within the park. The Discovery Walking Guides map and book on the Sierra de Aracena is available in English from UK bookshops. As summertime in Spain can be so hot, the best time to visit would be spring or autumn. Three of the best places to start various walks are from Aracena, Fuenteheridos and Alájar.
Sightseeing
The Natural Park and its surrounding area are not only rich in wildlife, but also steeped in history. There are many picture card whitewashed villages and castles.
There are many of Spain’s pretty whitewashed towns and villages around the park. One particularly worth visiting is Alájar. Another is Almonaster which has a stunning ancient hilltop mosque set in amongst ruins of a castle.
Aroche is another village which should be visited. The village is perched on a hilltop and surrounds a medieval castle. Less visited than most places in the Sierra it provides the visitor with beautiful natural scenery and rich history.
Although the village of Castaño is very small, it is worth a stop to see its imposing and unfinished Iglesia Nueva and its centuries-old houses.
There are outstanding caves in Aracena called the Gruta de las Maravillas.
Animals/Birds
There are many birds of prey including Black vultures, include a variety of eagles, goshawks, sparrowhawks and red and black kites. Due to their nature, the Black vultures are more likely to be spotted in the quieter areas of the park, away from roads and humans. The rivers are home to a variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Small mammals such as mongoose, polecats, beech martens, weasels, badgers and wild boar are found in the Sierra. You may also spot a muflon which is a type of wild sheep which has been introduced to the area.
Plants
The thickly wooded Sierra is home to many different varieties of trees. These include cork, gall, holm and kermes oaks. Also found here are wild fig trees and sarsaparillas among many others.
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