The best traffic-free bike rides around Arriate

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.

Cuevas del Sol Street in Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most iconic and photographed corners of this picturesque town in the Sierra de Cádiz, famous for its houses built directly beneath enormous rocks.

A very important pedestrian plaza in Ronda, it had to be completely restored after the War of Independence against the French. It houses important buildings, such as the Church of Socorro with its two bell towers, and the noble Casino building, where the congress was held a century ago and the Andalusian flag was created. Right in the center, the plaza houses a fountain depicting Hercules, columns, and lions alluding to the symbols of Andalusia, and behind it a sculpture in homage to Blas Infante. The plaza is fully accessible. There is a parking lot.

San Cristobal patron saint of Ronda

The Capilla del Cristo de la Sangre in Arriate is a beautiful chapel located in the Plaza de la Iglesia in Arriate. The hermandad was founded in 1655 and the chapel has played an important role in the religious and cultural traditions of the community ever since. The chapel has a simple but elegant single-sided nave with a beautiful baroque altar in the apse. The chapel houses a statue of the Cristo de la Sangre, made by the famous sculptor Antonio Castillo Lastrucci in 1938. There is also a statue of the Santísimo Cristo Yacente, also made by Lastrucci in 1953. The hermandad organizes annual processions during Semana Santa, especially on Good Friday and Saturday.

This unique village is the only one in this part of Andalusia with cave dwellings. Unlike the region around Granada, there are no chimneys here, just rows of houses that seem to collapse under the weight of the rock from which they were carved. Beautiful examples are located on Calle Cuevas del Sol and Calle Cuevas de la Sombra. The tourist office has a beautiful artesonado ceiling from the 16th century. A keep towers above Setenil, from where the neighbouring village of Olvera can be seen. The Gothic Iglesia de la Encarnacion, located even higher, is decorated with neo-Gothic frescoes

Away from the well-known sights of Andalusia, the Puente de la Ventilla hides a silent testament to past times, which impresses above all with its location and simple architecture. The historic stone bridge spans a narrow, partly steeply cut gorge, through which the Arroyo de la Ventilla winds, and blends harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. Today, the bridge seems out of time and attracts above all tourists who are travelling off the beaten track.