In a natural park as large as this one, with so many places whose names have long shone in the collective memory, the Sierra de Las Villas seems to want to keep its secrets with jealous discretion. But the truth is that anyone who has not visited it does not really know the park. Rugged, lonely, wild and almost uninhabited, this sierra looks east towards its sisters, Segura and Cazorla, and west towards the olive-growing countryside of Jaén. A true balcony overlooking two worlds.
A narrow, winding road runs across Las Villas from one end to the other. Drive along it, savouring the scenery. Whenever you like, park the car and walk: the road is so quiet that it offers almost the tranquillity of an old path. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that this route is all there is. It is simply a wonderful corridor with many doors opening onto it, each leading to surprising places.
Make the most of the forest tracks that branch off the Las Villas road to head deeper into the sierra, as well as the picnic areas, viewpoints and waymarked trails. You will find unexpected waterfalls, peaks with fabulous views, spectacular cliffs and rock faces, box and juniper woodlands, ancient black pine forests clinging to improbable crags… and vultures, lots of vultures. And Spanish ibex, of course. And… well, discover the rest for yourself.
Don’t miss Iznatoraf, or Torafe as the locals call it, a charming balcony overlooking the Guadalquivir valley and the mighty mountain wall along the entire western edge of the park. It is here in Las Villas that Andalusia’s great river leaves the mountains where it was born and turns sharply towards the Atlantic. The villages of this district also boast an interesting Renaissance legacy and a traditional culture in which everything related to olive growing and the production of excellent olive oils plays a leading role.
