GAUCIN

Situated about 40 minutes away from the coast between Casares and Ronda, Gaucin is yet another of those enchanting little white towns you will come across travelling around the Andalucía countryside As you approach you will be confronted by a cluster of whitewashed houses, topped by red roofs, spread out beneath a cluster of cracked rocks. The old Moorish fortress, Castillo de Aguila (Eagle's Castle), now partly restored, stands high above the village, forming a silhouette against the backdrop of mountains. From this vantage point there are magnificent views across the valley of the Guadiaro river, reaching out to the coastline as far as the Rock of Gibraltar. The village is delightful and abounds with colorful flowers and plants. Its narrow streets and one-way system are not conducive to driving, however, and the place is best explored on foot. The daily fish market is always a lively event. Gaucin makes a good base from which to explore the hinterland, which is dotted about with attractive towns and villages such as Ronda, Grazalema, Casares, Ubrique and Jimena de la Frontera.