The best MTB trails around Faraján

It's quite interesting when almost all houses are painted blue. Unfortunately, the Smurf figures are no longer there, allegedly due to excessively high licensing fees.

Funny Smurf village, whose house facades are painted blue, as the village was chosen for a Smurf film. A later vote by the villagers resulted in them keeping the blue color as the house paint. Some houses have paintings, and there is also a town map that points to the attractions.

Beautiful square in front of the town hall and the church next door, which is well worth seeing.

A very beautiful building

The Church of Our Lady of Mercy in Ronda is a historic church, built in 1585, known for housing a holy relic: the incorrupt hand of Saint Teresa of Ávila. It is a former convent complex, of which only the church and orchard remain today. Key Features and History: Year of Construction: The church dates from 1585 and is located in the historic center of Ronda. Convent: Originally a convent, it is now home to the Discalced Carmelites (shoeless Carmelites). Holy Relic: One of its most special features is the presence of the "incorrupt hand of Saint Teresa." Architecture: It is a three-aisled basilica decorated with 17th-century religious paintings. Location: The church is located in the northern part of Ronda, on Calle Virgen de la Paz, near the Alameda Gardens.

Júzcar, known as the Blue Village, is a picturesque town in the province of Málaga, famous for its blue-painted houses. This color change took place in 2011 for the world premiere of the film "The Smurfs." Although initially a temporary campaign, the residents decided to keep the blue color due to the increase in tourism.

The view of Ronda from the plains is breathtaking and one of the most impressive panoramas in Andalusia. From the flat plain below the city, Ronda appears as a spectacularly situated cluster of whitewashed buildings perched on a high plateau, crisscrossed by the dramatic Tajo de Ronda gorge. Ronda is literally perched on the steep cliffs and seems almost interwoven with the landscape. Particularly striking is the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), which connects the two parts of the city across the deep gorge. From the valley below, the bridge appears monumental and showcases the engineering skills of the 18th century.

The former Smurf village still has blue houses and wall paintings, but the freestanding figures are gone. We learned from residents that Sony demanded high licensing fees and so the figures disappeared.