Explore The White Villages of Southern Spain

Southern Spain boasts many destinations worth exploring with everything from spectacular beaches along the sparkling Mediterranean Sea to ancient Roman ruins, Moorish palaces, flamenco performances, and incredible white villages. This is Andalusia, with rivers, farmland, and hills bordering the southern coast. The Moors ruled much of it for 800 years, from the 8th through 15th centuries, with their legacy still seen today in landmarks like Seville’s Alcazar, the grand Alhambra, and the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral. The twisting streets of its old cities and villages often resemble those of Morocco, with whitewashed buildings reflecting heat while narrow lanes maximize shade. A Muslim prince was the first to import orange trees here, with their descendants thriving in many courtyards today. The pueblos blancos, white villages, are a must-see for any visitor to this region as a significant part of this cultural corner of Spain, having played an important role in its history.

The History and Architecture of Southern Spain’s White Villages

Archaeological discoveries show that Southern Spain has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Most villages existed during the Roman era, occupied by the Moors until the fall of Granada in 1492 which marked the end of Muslim rule in the country. They’re usually built on the sides of mountains or on top of hills and fortified, characterized by traditionally whitewashed facades and red-tiled roofs, lined along narrow, winding cobbled streets, alleyways, and little squares. Ornate churches sit atop cliffs, while all provide views of the hills below. The villages were originally settled and built by North African Berber farmers who arrived between the 9th and 10th centuries, the peak of Moorish rule. Farmers worked peacefully in the valleys, but by the end of the 11th century, the Christian Reconquest started to topple Muslim kingdoms in the country’s north, causing farmers to head for the hills. They chose the highest vantage points and enclosed the streets with fortified walls, finding safety in the isolated villages. The Moorish influence is what makes them so architecturally interesting with the whitewashed homes and their characteristic wrought-iron grills. They have a distinctly Arabic feel, yet each one has at least one Roman Catholic church, revealing the victory of the Catholics over Muslims. While they were constructed to defend communities against invaders during centuries of conflict, they share more than attractive architecture and scenic beauty. The conflict has long passed, but the community remains, with residents young and old still bringing chairs into the streets, and spending time with neighbors and friends.