The southern region of Andalucía, in Spain, is known for its countryside filled with olive groves, its beaches and its many rural towns. There are several cycling routes around the region’s national parks.
Cádiz.
Cádiz is one of the most visited cities in Andalucía. Located on a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean the city is known for its cathedral, its museums and its many traditional plazas.
Cadiz by Andy R (Creative Commons)
Cádiz is home to a number of museums covering a wide range of interests ranging from history to archeology, lithography and the fine arts. The Museum of Cádiz has a large collection of artifacts from the Phoenicians and Romans.
The Cathedral of Cádiz is one of the city’s symbols. Built in a baroque style, this cathedral is decorated with gilded tiles, a high altar and a bell tower with views towards the city.
The city has four main districts. The City Centre is the historical district. In the nearby neighbourhood of Santa María there are many traditional flamenco bars. In the district of El Pópulo visitors will find some of the city’s main landmarks, including the cathedral and Town Hall. The district of La Viña is the ancient fishermen’s district which is known for La Caleta beach and its many tapas bars.
The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is located in the province of Cadiz. Visitors will be able to enjoy many activities, including biking, hiking and visiting the canyons. The Garganta Verde is a canyon 400 metres deep where visitors will be able to observe local vultures and other birds.
The area is known for its many canyons and caves that can be explored. Visitors will be able to hike around the Sierra de San Bartolomé, located in the Frente Litoral Natural Park. Mountain bikes can be rented in the nearby villages.
Huelva
Huelva is another southern province, located next to Cádiz. This province is known for its many white sand beaches and its national park. The Parque Nacional de Doñana is one of the region’s largest and most visited natural parks. There is an extensive area of marshlands and many wetlands where visitors will be able to see local animals and birds. Trips by car around the dunes can be organized.
Parque Nacional de Doñana by José Luis Filpo Cabana (Creative Commons)
There are several other parks in the province of Huelva, including the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche. Visitors will be able to walk along one of the park’s most popular routes, the route between the towns of Talenque and Valdelarco. Along the route there are many oak trees and visitors will be able to see the black pigs that are bred in the area. The park’s highest peak is the Cerro de los Bonales, known for its views. Visitors will be able to explore the traditional pueblos blancos located in the region, the white villages known for their whitewashed houses.
Vías Verdes
The Vias Verdes are a set of paths designed for cyclists and walkers who want to explore the region. These paths follow ancient railway tracks and most are scenic routes. Visitors will be able to cycle the more than 30 kilometers that separate Cádiz and Seville. The main towns on this route are Puerto Serrano and Olvera, and some of the main sights include the Peñón of Zaframagón, known for its colony of vultures.