What to see in the Sierra de Aracena, Andalusia, Spain- Molino Rio Alajar

Karen Brown's
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AROUND ALÁJAR

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A short walk from your cottage, along country lanes lined with stone walls, takes you to the pretty village of Alájar with its white houses and winding, cobbled streets. Some of the bars and restaurants stand out for their cosiness and character. High above the cluster of white houses towers la Peña de Arias Montano, a craggy cliff with a sixteenth century hermitage set on its peak.

Alájar's name comes from the Arab word for stone, and the fact is that it is a stony peak that dominates the village and presides over the life and doings of its 836 inhabitants. This peak, called Peña de Arias Montano (after Philip II's unorthodox minister who on retiring felt drawn to this land), next to the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Angeles, and the charming layout of the town of Alájar shines whitely, like the cut-out sillhouette of a giant lizard, against the green of the surrounding forests and meadows. You are visiting an area where fine specimens of Iberian swine are bred.You will find shops where you can buy all kinds of sausage meats, sausages, and of course, acorn-fed hams.

The Mezquita Almonaster la Real

RestaurantS

Bars and restaurants are plentiful.Here are some of the best:

		Casa El Padrino This old farmhouse belonged to Benito Arias Montano in the year 1527, was the residence of the Cardinal Cienfuegos in the year 1775 and was transformed in 1984 into a restaurant. The dining room was the actual chapel. The splendid food is based on old recipies from the village.
		El Corcho This old theater and cinema of Alájar has been converted into a restaurant. Corcho means cork. The decoration of the restaurant is a creation of the owner and local artists, specialised in working with cork. Amazing.
		La Botíca Old olivemill of 1641 later converted into a bodega and horsestable then used as a lemonade factory. Another good place to eat.

ARacena

Aracena, the main town in the park, is only a twenty minute drive along scenic roads from the Molino. It boasts a fine thirteenth century church, built on a hill by the Knights Templar, who were given dominion over the area in 1267. Beneath this hill crowned by the church, lies the Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave Of Wonders), one of Spain's most impressive caves. a.

DOÑANA NATIONAL PARK

Spain's largest wildlife sanctuary, the Coto de Doñana National Park, is within reach. This is one of the last untouched parts of Europe, visited by a great variety of migrating birds, and one of the remaining strongholds of the lynx. On the coast there are fishing villages and some of Spain's finest beaches; while Seville, the lively Andalusian capital, is accessible for daytrips.

All this makes the Molino Río Alájar an unrivalled rural destination for those in search of a relaxing holiday, in an area rich in cultural treasures and natural beauty.