Cortijo La Presa

Known as the Parque Natural de la Sierra Subbética, this is a protected area with a huge ecological wealth and beautiful scenery, divided into eight municipalities. (The Cortijo is located in the Parque) Learn more...

This Vía Verde de la Subbética region, which runs along the old railway track and has been converted into a 52 km path, is designed for the enjoyment of hikers, cyclists and horse riders alike as they travel through the municipalities that make it up: Almedinilla, an important archaeological site; Cabra, with wonderful, varied architecture and scenery; Carcabuey, the heart of the nature reserve; Doña Mencía, where the famous wines come from; Fuente-Tójar, land of “dancers”; Iznájar, which lends its name to the reservoir; Luque, a stunning natural entrance to the Sierras Subbéticas; Priego de Córdoba, the Baroque jewel of Andalucía; Rute, with its sweet aniseed fragrance, and Zuheros, of picturesque Arabic-Andalusian beauty.

Córdoba, (approx. 1hr 20 mins) the capital city, is in the middle of the province. It sprawls over both banks of the River Guadalquivir and is the setting for three cultures: Moorish, Jew and Christian.

The city of Córdoba is one of the most popular due to its historical legacy and heritage. The old town has been declared a World Heritage site.

About 5 km from the capital city you can visit the remains of the Medina Azahara or Madinat al-Zahra, a court city built on the orders of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III to become the capital of the Caliphate, the royal residence and seat of government. As legend goes, it was his favourite, called Zahra, who suggested he build this beautiful city, hence its name.

Discover all of the attractions that Córdoba and the surrounding area has to offer.

Rute - Attractive town with several unusual museums (Anisette, chocolate, sugar, ham, nougat....) (Approx. 20 mins)

Chocolate Factory and Nativity Scene (Belén de Chocolate)

Museum of Ham (Museo de Jamones) - Learn more

Museum of Sugar (Museo de Azúcar) - Learn more

Museum of Anis (Museo de Anís) - Learn more

Museum of Nougat (Museo del Turrón Artesano) - Learn more

(Approx. 1hr 30 mins.) The Alhambra was a palace, a citadel, fortress, and the home of the Nasrid sultans, high government officials, servants of the court and elite soldiers (from the 13th to the 14th century). Today, the monument is divided into four main areas: the Palaces, the military zone or Alcazaba, the city or Medina and the agricultural estate of the Generalife. All of these areas are surrounded by woods, gardens and orchards.

Other notable buildings belonging to a different time period are also included, such as the Renaissance style Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum (most of the items are from the site of the monument) and the Fine Art Museum.

Three different impressions of Granada throughout time:

Al-Suqundi, 13th century: "Granada is the Damascus of Al-Andalus, a pasture for the eyes, an elevation of the soul. It has an in-expugnable castle of tall walls and magnificent buildings. It stands out for the singularity of its river, which disseminates through its houses, baths, Moorish markets, internal and external mills and gardens".

Ví­ctor Hugo, 19th century: "Be it near or far, Spanish or Arabic, There is not one single city, Which dare dispute, With Granada, the beautiful, The prize of beauty, Nor any that show, With more enchantment or jollity, Brighter eastern sparkles, Under a more serene sky".

Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, 19th century: "Who has not heard of and admired Granada without even visiting it?".

The Museum of Ham (Museo de Jamones) (Approx. 20 mins)

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One of the most majestically beautiful towns in Andalusia, is a series of secluded streets and corners crammed with noble houses, architectural monuments and sculptures, all within a complex, irregular urban layout. The town has been the scene of many archaeological sites from all eras as well as the discovery of numerous relics.

Its origins appear to be in Roman times, as it is generally believed to have been the site of the Roman town of Baxo or Bago.

Priego de Córdoba - More

Olive Oil From High Altitude!

Nuve Olivo is the result of the pure and sincere vision of some lovers of the countryside, sunrises and roads. Lovers of the frosts, dews and mountains. Lovers of the first trills of the day and especially of the smell of olive groves from the height of the penibetic mountain range. Their idyll with the olive grove continues because they are also lovers of the oil mill, the sound of pressing the olives, the secrets of making high-altitude EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil), one of the most appreciated types of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, made with olives from olive groves that are located in the mountains. That altitude provides the oil with that flavor so characteristic and appreciated.

The Pico de la Tiñosa or simply La Tiñosa is a mountain of the Cordillera Subbética located in the main ridge of the Sierra Horconera, in the province of Córdoba, in Andalusia, Spain. It is located in the municipality of Priego de Córdoba. It is the roof (highest point) of Córdoba and is part of the 8 Peaks of Andalusia. There are excellent views of the mountain from Cortijo La Presa.

The peak is included in a set of mountains that, due to their special characteristics, have been declared a natural park of the Sierras Subbéticas.

The Junta de Andalucía has regulated the practice of climbing in the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park and its area of ​​influence, after a broad participatory process, as reported by the Sustainable Development delegate, Giuseppe Aloisio.

The delegate explained that the Sierras Subbéticas have a richness in climbing areas of great tradition, some of which are a national benchmark. In addition, he added that like the rest of the activities in nature, in recent years climbing has seen an increase in the number of practitioners, "which makes it essential to have a regulation that ensures the enjoyment of this activity in a sustainable way without altering the values of the park or put at risk the principles that govern the management of this protected natural area.

The Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park has been declared a Special Conservation Area and Special Protection Area for Birds by the Natura 2000 European Ecological Network. The presence of nests of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), peregrine falcons (Falco pere-grinus), Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) or eagle owl (Bubo bubo), among others, as well as the need to conserve these birds in their most sensitive period of reproduction "justifies the need to regulate the activity in these areas, to preserve these species from the nuisances that could cause them the practice of climbing, ”adds the delegate.

It has also has been clarified that several meetings of the Infrastructure and Service Commission of the Governing Board of the Natural Park have been held, to provide a greater guarantee and legal certainty to carry out the climbing activity and make it compatible with the conservation of the Protected Natural Area, as demanded by various sports, federative and conservation groups. As a result of this consensual work, “the Governing Board unanimously approved this new document, which represents a milestone for sustainable climbing in this protected area”, he highlights.

The new Plan establishes the climbing areas and the sectors that comprise each of them where rock climbing, bouldering, abseiling and other vertical progression techniques can be practiced. In this way, each one of them has been delimited by means of cartography to allow its unequivocal identification.

It is a total of 23 areas included in the municipal terms of Zuheros, Luque, Cabra, Priego de Córdoba and Rute in which the regulation establishes scalding areas with and without restrictions. The latter are those climbing areas where it has been determined that the practice of this sport can generate environmental effects on the geology, species of flora, fauna or their habitats, and, therefore, sports activity is temporarily limited.