This calm mountain town in southern Spain has a 13th-century hilltop castle and the extensive Gruta de las Maravillas cave system with underground lakes.
Aracena, a white-painted town in Spain’s Huelva province, lies within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park. Visit the Gruta de las Maravillas, a cave system with underground lakes and detailed rock formations shaped over thousands of years. Walk up to the hilltop Castillo de Aracena, a 13th-century fortress with remnants of Islamic walls, and explore the nearby Gothic-MudĂ©jar Priory Church. The town’s streets include 19th-century buildings designed by AnĂbal González, such as the Plaza de Abastos market hall. Surrounding oak forests and chestnut groves provide trails leading to villages like Almonaster la Real, where a 9th-century mosque still stands.
Gruta de las Maravillas: Underground Lakes and Rock Formations
Beneath Aracena’s castle hill, the Gruta de las Maravillas stretches over 2 kilometers with 12 chambers and six clear lakes. Guides take you through rooms like the “Sala de los Desnudos,” where mineral deposits form shapes resembling human figures. The caves were discovered in 1850 and opened to the public in 1914, with temperatures staying between 16°C and 19°C year-round. Stalactites and stalagmites cover ceilings and floors, created by water filtering through limestone over millennia. Book tickets ahead during busy periods like summer weekends or holidays.
Aracena Castle and the Priory Church
The Castillo de Aracena, built during the 13th century, includes surviving Islamic walls and a watchtower with views of the surrounding hills. Next to the castle, the Priory Church of Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor mixes Gothic arches with Mudéjar brickwork, its tower originally part of a mosque. Climb the tower’s narrow stairs to see the town’s red-tiled roofs and the natural park’s forests. A combined ticket includes entry to the castle, church, and Museo del Jamón. The site’s elevation made it a key defensive point during medieval conflicts between Christian and Islamic rulers.
Museo del JamĂłn: Iberian Pig Farming and Curing
Seven rooms in this museum detail how Iberian pigs graze in oak forests and how their meat is cured for up to four years. Learn about the role of acorns in flavoring the ham and see tools used in traditional slaughtering festivals. Videos explain the annual matanza (butchering) process, still practiced in rural areas. Taste samples of jamón ibérico to compare textures and salt levels. Nearby shops like Tienda Setas Sirlache sell vacuum-packed ham, cheeses, and local mushrooms.
Walking Through Aracena’s Old Town
Aracena’s old town, recognized as a cultural site in 1991, has white-painted houses with iron balconies and cobbled streets. Plaza de Doña Elvira, lined with 19th-century mansions, hosts outdoor cafes and a fountain. Look for the Casino de Arias Montano, a social club with ornate tiles, and the Open-Air Museum of Contemporary Art, where sculptures sit on street corners. Visit the 17th-century Convento de JesĂşs, MarĂa y JosĂ© to see its quiet cloister and baroque altarpieces. Early mornings are ideal for avoiding crowds in the narrow lanes near Plaza Alta.
Food to Try in Aracena
Order presa ibĂ©rica, a tender cut of pork shoulder grilled with rosemary, or solomillo al whisky, pork loin cooked in a whisky sauce. From November to April, restaurants often add wild mushroom dishes like revuelto de setas (scrambled eggs with mushrooms) to their menus. Try queso de cabra con miel, a soft goat’s cheese drizzled with honey from nearby beehives. At ConfiterĂa Rufino, a bakery operating since 1920, buy a slice of their pine nut-topped cheesecake. Winter markets sell roasted chestnuts and sweet potato pastries called boniatos.
Trails and Villages Near Aracena
Walk the GR-41 trail through cork oak forests to Fuenteheridos, a village known for chestnut orchards and natural springs. The Ruta de los Molinos follows a stream past old watermills near CorteconcepciĂłn, a 90-minute hike from Aracena. Join guided tours to Jabugo, where ham producers like 5 Jotas age legs of pork in climate-controlled cellars. For a half-day trip, visit Minas de Riotinto, a mining area with red-stained cliffs and a museum explaining its industrial history.
Festivals in Aracena
In February, the Fiesta de Candelaria y San Blas fills streets with bonfires and dancers wearing traditional costumes. During Holy Week, processions carry religious statues through the old town accompanied by brass bands. The August summer fair includes flamenco performances, horse parades, and fireworks launched from the castle hill. On the third weekend of May, the Feria AgrĂcola displays handmade tools, local honey, and livestock like Iberian pigs. The Castillo de Aracena hosts classical and early music concerts during the Festival de MĂşsica Antigua in late August.
Getting to Aracena and Visitor Tips
Drive from Seville on the A-66 and A-493 highways, a 90-minute route through rolling hills. Buses depart Seville’s Plaza de Armas station twice daily, taking two hours. Park at Plaza Alta or Avenida de AndalucĂa, but arrive before noon on weekends to secure a spot. Buy a combined ticket for the castle, caves, and ham museum to save money. Spring and autumn are best for hiking; winter attracts fewer visitors and highlights dishes like stews with locally grown beans. Wear shoes with grip for the castle’s uneven steps and the cave’s damp pathways.
