Las Villas
Authentic villages between olive groves and mountains, at the gates of the nature park.
Key points
- Las Villas comprises four municipalities: Villacarrillo, Villanueva del Arzobispo, Iznatoraf and Sorihuela del Guadalimar.
- They give the third name to the Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas nature park.
- Iznatoraf is a hilltop village with a Moorish street plan and views over the whole province.
Between La Loma and the mountains, the small Las Villas area links olive country with the northern entrance to the nature park. It is little known and very authentic, ideal for staying near the park without the bank-holiday crowds.
Iznatoraf
Its white houses huddle on a hilltop inside the old walls. The narrow, sloping streets keep their medieval layout, and its viewpoints look out to Úbeda, Baeza, Sierra Mágina and the Cazorla mountains. It is one of the prettiest villages in the province.
Villacarrillo
The main town keeps the Church of the Assumption, with designs by Vandelvira, and the House of the Inquisition. It is the best base for entering the park via the Tranco reservoir.
Villanueva and Sorihuela
- Villanueva del ArzobispoThe Fuensanta sanctuary and access to the park along the Tranco road.
- Sorihuela del GuadalimarA medieval tower-castle above the Guadalimar valley.
Tip
A one-day route
Combine Iznatoraf in the morning, lunch in Villacarrillo and an afternoon at the Tranco reservoir, already in the Sierra de Segura.