Rural Andalucia

Rural Andalucia

4 April - 11 April

We choose to rent a self-catering apartment near Villanueva del Trabuco, a rural village in the heart of an olive-producing region, for our stay in Andalucia and we're so glad we did! We got to observe life in rural Andalucia, spend time in places where most tourists seldom go, meet the local people, sample the foods of the region, and see some spectacular sights as well as more common ones like tractors driving through the main plaza.

Our apartment, a converted goat shed and hay loft, was lovely and just right for two people. It was located just outside Trabuco and surrounded by olive groves.

We intentionally booked most of our lodging through AirBnB in order to experience more of the local lifestyle and this place certainly gave us that taste. Our little place is part of a cortijo, a Spanish farm, owned by an English couple who settled there 14 years ago. Denise and Shaun made us welcome by providing a well-stocked pantry that even included some excellent Spanish wine and by sharing insights into the local culture and advice on what to see and eat. We even went tapas bar-hopping with them one night! What a treat to have locally-raised and processed "jamón" and other tapas, not to mention sherry from nearby Jerez. 

On another late afternoon, Denise and her daughter took me hunting for wild asparagus which grows under the chaparral in the olive groves. 

 












Nearby attractions...

Antequera - Lovely views from the Alcazaba, the Colegiata de Santa Maria built atop the Alcazaba, and narrow streets... EVERYWHERE!

 














El Santuario in Archidona - With a history dating back to prehistoric times through Roman, Moorish and Christian eras, this place was almost 1000 feet above the village, a 1000 feet that I had to suffer switch-backing up and down, not to mention walking near to the edge. It was pretty spectacular, though.