Dramatically dominating the town are the tumbling, hilltop ruins of the castillo, built by the kingdoms of Portugal and Castilla in the 12th century atop the ruins of an earlier Islamic settlement. Directly adjacent is the Gothic-Mudéjar Iglesia Prioral de Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor. Both are reached via a steep lane from Plaza Alta; guided tours grant access to the castle's interior, though it's honestly more impressive from the outside.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.33 MILES
Dating to the 9th and 10th centuries, this rare jewel of a mezquita (mosque) perches a five-minute walk above Almonaster's main square. The almost…
0.17 MILES
Beneath Aracena's castle hill is a web of caves and tunnels carved from the karstic topography. An extraordinary 1.2km, 50-minute loop takes you through…
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20.92 MILES
Occupying pride of place at the southern end of Monesterio, the excellent Museo del Jamón is arguably the best of its kind in Spain. Displays, interactive…
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0.26 MILES
The jamón for which the sierra is famed gets due recognition in this modern museum. You'll learn why the acorn-fed Iberian pig gives such succulent meat,…
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13.7 MILES
Riotinto's mining museum offers a sweeping overview of the area’s unique history and geology, from the megalithic tombs of the 3rd millennium BC to the…
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5.8 MILES
High above Alájar, this rocky spur provides magical views over the village. The site takes its name from remarkable 16th-century polymath and humanist…
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11.3 MILES
These are old copper and sulphur mines 3km north of Nerva (6km east of Minas de Riotinto). Here you see the source of the Río Tinto and a 65m-deep…
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19.96 MILES
Blessed with fine panoramas from its elevated walls, Fregenal de la Sierra's 13th-century castle houses a grand 18th-century bullring. Enter through the…
Nearby Andalucía attractions
1. Iglesia Prioral de Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor
0.07 MILES
Right beside Aracena's castle, dominating the town, is the Iglesia Prioral de Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor. Built about a century after the castle, the…
0.13 MILES
Originally Aracena's central square, this gently sloping plaza near the top of town is home to an attractive 15th-century town hall, backed by the…
0.17 MILES
This 16th-century church overlooks what was once Aracena's main square.
0.17 MILES
Beneath Aracena's castle hill is a web of caves and tunnels carved from the karstic topography. An extraordinary 1.2km, 50-minute loop takes you through…
0.26 MILES
The jamón for which the sierra is famed gets due recognition in this modern museum. You'll learn why the acorn-fed Iberian pig gives such succulent meat,…
6. Ermita de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles
5.8 MILES
On the Peña de Arias Montano, the 16th-century Ermita de Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles contains a small carving of the Virgin that is considered the…
5.8 MILES
High above Alájar, this rocky spur provides magical views over the village. The site takes its name from remarkable 16th-century polymath and humanist…
11.3 MILES
These are old copper and sulphur mines 3km north of Nerva (6km east of Minas de Riotinto). Here you see the source of the Río Tinto and a 65m-deep…