Region: Andalucia

Provinces: Cadiz, Malaga

Declared a Natural Park: 1984

Park surface area: 51,695 hectares

Points of interest:

Flora:

The mountain range conserves an important mass of typically Mediterranean natural vegetation including evergreen oaks, cork oaks, strawberry trees, carob trees and wild olives. Pine woodlands have been planted for a crop but have now naturalized. In the shade of the mountain El Pinsapar exists a magnificent forest of rare Pinsapo trees (Abies pinsapo). There are three areas of this exclusive fir tree in the mountainous area of Ronda showing that it once covered more ground. Grazalema park has the most well known of them and it is the park emblem. This tree species survived the last ice-age of Iberia and is therefore known as a living fossil.

Mediterranean scrub including Lentisc, Cistus and Gorse cover the hillsides which in spring are also host to a huge variety of wildflowers, some of which only grow in the Ronda area, such as Linaria platycalyx. Those endemic to Grazalema are Phlomis margaritae, Echinospartum algibicum and Erodium recoderi. Two cliff dwelling species; Ornithogalum reverchonii with its pretty white hanging bell flower and the orange flowered, Grazalema poppy (Papaver rupifragum) also grow in similar terrain in north Africa.

Fauna:
The Griffon vulture has a large resident breeding colony here as does Red-billed chough. Golden eagles and Eagle owls are resident but uncommon. Egyptian vulture, Booted eagle and Short-toed eagle arrive in spring to breed as do Lesser kestrels which have a breeding colony at Zahara de la Sierra. Blue rock thrush, Rock thrush and Black wheatear can be seen on the higher ground through the spring and summer with occasional Alpine accentor and Ring ouzel sightings in the winter. Warblers include Sub-alpine, Dartford, Sardinian and Orphean.

The Spanish Ibex which is a wild mountain goat, is the most visible mammal. Red deer, Mongoose, Stone marten, Genet and Wildcat are more elusive.

Also in the area:

Cueva de la Pileta is a natural cave system near Benaocaz which holds some of the most important cave paintings in Spain. Entry is 6 euros per adult and there are many group tours through the day. (When 25 or so people gather)

"Hundidero-Gato Complex" is a natural caving system that connects a sink hole to a cave river outlet traversing 5kms underground, caving here is for professional teams only.

There are Roman remains in the municipalities of Ubrique (Ocuri) and Prado del Rey (Iptuci). A few kilometres north east of the parkland are the ruins of Acinipo (Ronda la Vieja) where there are standing remains of the theatre, including the main stage wall and carved rock seating. Recent excavations are revealing the public baths. This site was important enough in Roman times to mint coins and is placed on an elevated area with open views.

The gastronomy of the region constitutes another important cultural wealth. Many of the villages survive today by producing goats cheese and Iberian pork products.

Botanic Gardens 'El Castillejo' El Bosque village

The number of people visiting El Pinsapar, as well as other enclaves of the park, are restricted. Permits should be sought at the Information Centre at El Bosque. (The park headquarters). From 1st July to 31st September some areas can only be visited with a registered group.

For more information about the Sierra de Grazalema and other nearby natural parks please see The Grazalema Guide A new and very informative website

Natural and National parks in Andalusia

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Comment

smaller | bigger

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment