Cortegana
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Cortegana

Cortegana

Sierra de Aracena village crowned by a medieval castle above oak-covered Huelva hills.

Cortegana is one of the prettiest villages in the Sierra de Aracena, a hilly, wooded corner of northern Huelva province that feels a world away from the Costa de la Luz. The village is large enough to have a few shops and bars, and the climb to the top rewards you with a well-preserved medieval castle dating from 1253 and views over the surrounding oak-covered hills. The 14th-century Iglesia del Divino Salvador, with its Gothic-Mudejar tower, stands at the heart of the village below.

The area is known for its Iberian ham — some of the best in Spain comes from the Jabugo area, 15 km north — and for its birdlife. Black storks sometimes nest near the village, and imperial eagles soar over the surrounding dehesa. Cortegana makes a good base for walking in the sierra or simply for slowing down.

Guide

Day Trips

Cortegana sits within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park, and the villages within it are close enough to cover several in a day. Aracena (18 km east) is the main town of the sierra, with its own hilltop castle and the Gruta de las Maravillas — a large cave system open to visitors. Almonaster la Real (10 km southwest) has a 10th-century mosque on its hilltop that is one of the best-preserved in Spain.

The dehesa woodland around the villages supports the black Iberian pig that produces the region's prized jamón ibérico de bellota. Several farms and curing houses in the area offer visits and tastings; the Jabugo area, about 15 km north, is the most celebrated.

Guide

Things to Do

Cortegana's main sight is its medieval castle on the hill above the town, and the village is worth exploring on foot for its church and the views over the oak-covered sierra. The town is small enough to cover in an afternoon, though the surrounding Sierra de Aracena offers excellent walking, wildlife, and a string of similar white villages within day trip range.