WELCOME
Below, you will find a small introduction of the place where our Cottages are located, with some specific data and qualifications that you surely did not know.
The designation as a Natural Park is very important and has shaped the development of this area. One of the things that occurs when a rural area is declared part of a Natural Park is that the construction of new homes on rustic land is prohibited, unless there was a preexisting ruin or the plot consists of more than 6 hectares. In this case, building a new construction is permitted, such as a tool house, no larger than 40m2. If the farm is bigger than 25 hectares, the construction may be larger.
If permission to rebuild a fallen ruin is granted, the parameters of the original construction must be respected. In addition, the house must have an appearance that does not contrast with the environment, that is, we can not build a villa like those in a coastal town. The rooves must be covered with Arabic red clay tile and the windows may not exceed certain dimensions, among other regulations.
The Natural Park designation has had important results appreciable today. Halting the construction of new homes and expansion of old ones, preventing urban overcrowding in a protected area, with great diversity of both flora and fauna.
The Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Park is approximately 98% private. From here we can draw two conclusions:
1) We can not enjoy the Park in its fullness, only those trails or ancient paths that take us from one town to another are publicly accessible, since most of the plots are private and fenced.
2) Many family’s livelihoods depend directly on what they produce in their fields, for example, people dedicated to the cultivation of nuts such as chestnuts. Fields dedicated to cultivation ensure that they are kept clean and cared for. Take the case of the Axarquía in Malaga, where many plots are used as second homes or infrequent holiday homes. The lack of continuous presence and infrequent maintenance leaves these properties more vulnerable to fire and makes fighting potential fires more difficult. See the case of Sierra Bermeja of the year 2021, also in Malaga.
Returning to our wonderful town of Jabugo. In addition to being a Natural Park, it is part of the Biosphere Reserve. Due to unique weather conditions and the know-how of many generations, we produce the best Iberian pork derivatives worldwide, such as Iberian acorn-fed ham and loin sausages, also in our area you can find other gastronomic jewels such as Amanita Caesarea (locally known as Gurumelos). The population of Jabugo, as part of Sierra Morena, also has the distinction of Starlite Reserve (stargazing), this is the area of Europe with the greatest diversity of mushrooms and fungi … Thus, we are in a small Natural Paradise that we must preserve.
Geographically speaking, Jabugo is located very centrally in relation to the rest of the Sierra. This has led to all kinds of people passing through its paths, such as bandits or smugglers. For example, in our field, next to the grain threshing area, that is in front of the pool, gunpowder was ground, which was transported along the trails by smugglers, who did business with neighboring Portugal. These people’s journeys have caused Jabugo to maintain paths to all nearby towns, such as the Ribera de Jabugo Trail, which leads us from the town itself to the neighboring Galaroza. Other options are to deviate to Castaño del Robledo or Fuenteheridos. From the farm we can also access other lesser-known trails such as the one that takes us to Santa Ana la Real or Aguafría, lesser-known, but equally beautiful. You can see all the trails by clicking here.
The municipality of Jabugo is composed of Jabugo, the neighborhood of El Repilado and the villages of Los Romeros and El Quejigo, with a total of approximately 2200 inhabitants.
Jabugo’s industry is predominately meat production, although it has nothing to envy of other neighboring towns. As part of the white villages, we can enjoy these villages with their white painted houses built upon beautiful, cobbled streets.
As important places to visit, we must mention the following:
Church of San Miguel: SXVIII, gives its name to the patron saint of the town. It is in the center of town, next to the Plaza del Jamón.
Tiro Pichón: Building built by the famous architect Aníbal González in the second decade of the twentieth century. It is currently the headquarters of the Protected Designation of Origin of Jabugo ham.
Bodegas de Sánchez Romero Carvajal: For ham lovers, you can take an hour-long guided tour where you can taste the best ham in the world while enjoying a detailed explanation of the process of the production of this delicacy.
Where to buy hams, shoulders or sausages?
We are ranchers and we work our land. We have our pigs in Constantina (Sierra Norte de Sevilla), where the quality of the grove and the soil have given us the opportunity to offer a product fed exclusively on acorns.
During your visit, ask about stock and price, since the product derived from the almost 200 pigs that we slaughter after the “montanera” is sold before Christmas.
On the main street of the village, you will find different shops. We recommend Lazo, there you can also find fresh meat slaughtered in the months of December to March and frozen meat later.
In the village there are many different bars and restaurants where you can taste local products.
Bar el Biri: Village bar where they serve tapas and rations. A lovely place to have a coffee or a drink after lunch on the terrace.
Bar Parada: Typical local bar, where the half rations are enough to make you want to skip dinner. Offers takeaway. It has a small terrace.
Bar Xauco: Bar with a large lounge where one can try all kinds of meats from the area. They have a spacious and pleasant dining room.
Casino Central: Tapas bar located in the town square with a large terrace overlooking the Church of San Miguel and the Plaza del Jamón. Moroccan food is currently available here, such as cous-cous and pastries.
Montesierra Restaurant, by Juan Hormigo: New restaurant where you can taste top quality local products, with professional waitstaff. Unique food service in two spacious and pleasant dining rooms.
Restaurant Las Bellotas: Restaurant only for full meals, belongs to Sánchez Romero Carvajal. In this restaurant you can order the highest quality meat dishes or portions of meat. It has a very nice terrace.
Bar Mancera: In the Plaza del Jamón, they do not serve food, but it is the typical meeting place for different generations, where they gather to have a “fresquita”, or, ice cold beer.
Bar Camacho: In El Repilado, right on the main road, this bar, without a doubt, offers the best fish in the Sierra. It has a terrace and indoor seating. We recommend that you go with extra time, since it is usually full.
* Suggestions:
*Angelino Bar: Have a beer, next to the Plaza del Jamón. It is an old tavern where Angelino will receive you and offer the best service in town.
* In summer we can always visit the bar at the Municipal Public Pool.
On the main drag of the village, we find 2 supermarkets:
Casa Miguel (Jabugo Express): Open every day (Sundays only until noon).
Komo-Komo: Open from Monday to Saturday.
Where is the nearest gas station?
On the National Highway 435 we find before the junction to La Nava a Cepsa gas station.
Feria de Los Remedios: The second weekend of July, the town celebrates its patron saint’s festivities. They last from Thursday to Sunday and the local townspeople and people from nearby towns gather under a tent to share unforgettable moments. A space is enabled with rides for the little ones. Once you’ve experienced it, you will come back every year for more.
Candelas: Different groups from town, of all ages, go to the Plaza del Jamón and light a fire where they cook a typical dish. This usually lasts from morning until 19:00. The date is usually at the end of October or the beginning of November, and may change depending on the weather forecast, since it is outdoors.
Largest stew in the world: Biennial event where the largest stew in the world is cooked in the old football field. Every two years the amount is exceeded, so that it enters, once again, in the Guinness Book of World Records. A massive event that is visited by people from all over Spain. The date is usually the third week of March. Link to more information https://www.huelvahoy.com/jabugo-cocina-el-cocido-mas-grande-del-mundo/
San Miguel Fair: At the end of summer (September 29), the town’s second patron saint festival takes place. Although fewer people attend because the summer is over, we can enjoy the festivities with the locals.
In the Sierra, there are another 28 towns, here we recommend some villages that are less than 20 kms away.
A few other villages worth visiting, according to their geographical location:
To the West, taking the CN 433: La Nava, Almonaster la Real, Cortegana.
South, towards Huelva, right on the CN 435 Aguafría, then turning left onto the HU-8123, Santa Ana la Real, Alájar, Linares de la Sierra.
Going East, towards Seville by the CN 433: Galaroza, Fuenteheridos, Castaño del Robledo, Aracena.
Small descriptions of the villages and suggestions for eating:
Galaroza: This village of carpenters can be reached walking along the Ribera de Jabugo trail, on a circular path of left turns and with a route of just over 4 kms., consult map. Do not miss the town square, with its 12 spout fountain.
There are many options to eat in Galaroza, among others:
Mesón La Casucha: Mesón with a spectacular terrace. Varied dishes and tapas.
Casa Encarna: Typical village bar where they will tell you the daily meals. It has a terrace.
Cervecería Bar Andaluz: Bar next to the Plaza de los Álamos and the fountain of the 12 spouts. For breakfast, lunch and dinner.
*Suggestion: Bar La Taberna: Typical village tavern. We love its decoration and Julio’s personal service. The house vermouth is a must try. With your drink they give you an aperitif. If you go, mention that Jesus of El Pozuelo has sent you, this will bring a smile to his face.
Santa Ana la Real: In this small but beautiful town, we can enjoy charming streets and the beginning of many other trails, such as the Bosque de las Letras, the Joyarancón waterfall or, if we want something more serious, we can go to the Risco Levante, one of the highest and most spectacular points in the area.
Santa Ana la Real offers fewer gastronomic options, but just as good:
Bar 4 corners: next to the town square, family place where you can enjoy real homemade food.
*Suggestion: Corral del Concejo: Bar-Restaurant where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner, both inside the beautiful place and on its terrace overlooking the town. Ask for Joaquin and tell him that you know us.
Almonaster la Real: It has the important distinctive “Most Beautiful Villages in Spain”. In this town (from which Jabugo became independent in 1691, after paying 20,000 “reais” of fleece), we find its famous Mosque, dating from the ninth century and later converted into a hermitage. The Church of San Martín, from the XIV century, also a must visit, with a Manueline (Portuguese) style cover, the only one in Spain.
In Almonaster there are several places to eat:
Las Palmeras Restaurant: Typical inn with terrace, they serve both meat and fish. Isabel II Restaurant: They serve both lunch and dinner. It does not have a terrace, but the interior is very cozy.
*Suggestion: Rincón de Curro: Next to the main drag, you will find this typical restaurant where they serve good meat and wine. It has a good terrace, and the interior is nice.
Fuenteheridos: There are very few people who do not know this small but beautiful town, the source of the Múrtiga River in the Fuente de los Doce Caños. Fuenteheridos is also accessible by walking along a path that is accessed from our farm.
Due to the large influx of people on weekends and holidays, we recommend practically any of the bars in the town square, don’t want to end up going hungry.
*Suggestion: Mesón El Barrio: Nice inn, with a replica inside of the Fuente de los Doce Caños, where one finds both tapas and elaborate dishes. It has a terrace and is located on a quiet street.
* Suggestion: Mesón Biarritz: Despite not having a terrace, it is a place where every dish is worth it. A place for lunch or dinner, always book before you go.
Castaño del Robledo: From Finca El Pozuelo we can directly access the path that takes us to what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in the area. It has 2 churches, one of them unfinished since 1794, due to discrepancies between the archbishop and the local authorities as to the money that each one was responsible to pay.
If we want to eat in this small town, we can recommend a couple of places:
Bodeguita de la Castaña: For breakfast, lunch and tapas. A cool beer after walking the trail from Jabugo to Castaño is always recommended.
Mesón El Roble: Typical Mountain inn where you can enjoy mainly meat from the area.
Alájar: It is located at the foot of a rocky and impressive mountain called “the Peña de Arias Montano”, a Natural Monument of great value that served as a refuge for the humanist Benito Arias Montano, who among many other commissions, had that of the main librarian of the Monastery of El Escorial, appointed by Felipe II himself (XVI century). Under the mountain, we find a network of caves, most of them not open for visitation. On the mountain itself we find the Hermitage of the Queen of the Angels (S.XVI), (La Reina de los Àngeles), where every year thousands of people from neighboring towns come to celebrate the pilgrimage (declared of National Tourist Interest).
There are a wide variety of places to eat in Alájar:
El Padrino Restaurant: Typical Serrano restaurant, with variety on its menu and elaborate dishes. Great selection of homemade desserts. It has a terrace but beware, you must book in advance, as it is usually full.
Bar La Parra: Perfect bar to have some beers and some tapas, both inside and on the terrace.
La Plazita: It is the only pizzeria with a wood oven in the whole area. The place is very cozy, but the best thing is its fantastic terrace. Check the opening hours and days as they change. Here, order early, have a lot of time, or be patient, only two pizzas fit in the oven at a time, and it gets very busy.
Casa Viruta: The newest bar in town with a refreshing mixture of traditional local dishes and surprising new combinations, offering innovating flavors using classic local ingredients. Centrally located in the town square.
Linares de la Sierra: One of the towns with the lowest population is Linares de la Sierra which, despite the recent growth in tourist visits, currently has less than 250 inhabitants. Its streets have very little free space, due to the topographic conditions of the area. We would like to call your attention to the quality of the cobblestone of each street and the “alfombras” or “carpets” (special cobblestones that we find at the entrance to each house), reflecting the fact that people spend their lives outdoors on the street.
As suggestions for eating, one can find:
El Balcón de Linares: Typical local bar, with a spectacular dining room and a beautiful view. Outside, the terrace overlooks the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, in turn a bullring. Meat is available as the main course.
Arrieros Restaurant: With an interior like this, there is no need for a terrace. Small inn where it is better to book in advance, offers elaborate local dishes.
Cortegana: Visigoth, Arabic, Portuguese… Border town to whom King Sancho IV granted the license to create a fortress, part of the so-called “Galician Band” and thus be able to warn the Kingdom of Seville of possible attacks by the Kingdom of Portugal. It is currently being studied whether the Castle predates SXIII. If you like Castles, we recommend that you visit this one, as it is quite well preserved.
Also a must, a visit to the Church of the Divine Savior, who’s construction began in the fourteenth century (Gothic-Mudejar).
Aracena: In this town you will find one of the most spectacular caves in the world: The Grotto of Wonders. La Gruta de las Maravillas. It has karst formations: Stalactitites, Stalagmites, Columns, Castings… as well as some impressive lakes. It can be visited, and the tour is about an hour.
Just above the Grotto, we find another of the fortifications that Sancho IV had built to defend the Kingdom of Seville from Portuguese incursions. The Castle, built on an old Muslim Alcazaba. On the ruins of the Castle was built a Gothic Church, whose initial works date from the thirteenth century.
Due to the large influx of tourists throughout the year, the selection at lunchtime is very wide:
Bar P ́Taska: Bar in the purest rocker style with a variety of mountain and seasonal dishes. It is the typical place where one sits down to have a beer and ends up eating when seeing the dishes other customers have ordered. It has a terrace.
Gastrobar Russes: If you like something a little different, this is the perfect place. They use quality products and give a twist to both taste and sight. Very nice both inside the premises and on its terrace. During the weekends we recommend booking ahead.
Bar Noria: Typical local bar where we can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is in a very busy place and is a classic meeting point for the townspeople to have a coffee or a few beers.
La Comanda: Different place, located in the heart of Gran Vía, where you will find montaditos, toasts, breads, sandwiches, pâtés… no elaborate cuisine, large wine selection, ideal place to have a few beers while we have an aperitif, but beware!, you will end up asking for more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In each village there are more options. Our suggestions may not be to your liking, so you can always search for information about such places on the internet and check prices or menus.
Si vienes en INVIERNO tienes que saber:
SOBRE LA ESTUFA DE PELLET
Para encenderla, lo primero es comprobar que haya pellet en la torva. En caso de que no haya, rellenar hasta un par de dedos por debajo de la rejilla. Únicamente tienes que darle al botón blanco de encendido y dejarlo pulsado hasta que se inicie la máquina. En la pantalla pondrá “encendido” o “inicio”.
Cuando quieras apagarla, pulsa el mismo botón hasta que salte el ventilador y en la pantalla ponga “apagado”.
La estufa está programada, por favor no toquéis los botones con flechas, ya que puede desconfigurarse.
Si la has apagado por error y quieres encenderla de nuevo, debes esperar a que el ventilador se pare. Este proceso dura unos 15 minutos, así la máquina se limpiará y funcionará correctamente.
IMPORTANTE: si no esperas, la máquina entrará en bucle y tardarás más tiempo en poder ponerlo en funcionamiento, el desenchufarlo no sirve de nada.
Siempre que encienda, debemos abrir la puerta y quitar la ceniza que haya en el cenicero. Esto es muy importante ya que en caso de no hacerse puede haber problemas de combustión y la máquina es posible que deje de funcionar. En caso de que la máquina haya estado funcionando hasta hace poco el cenicero estará caliente, por lo que debemos esperar a que se enfríe para poder sacarlo y vaciarlo.
Comprobar que siempre haya algún radiador encendido (hay que girar la ruedecita a la izquierda para abrirlo). Nosotros lo dejamos puesto en las habitaciones y el cuarto de baño. Es un circuito de agua cerrado, si todos están cerrados puede romperse el sistema completo.
Si las estufa se queda sin pellet, salta una alarma desagradable y se apagará.
IMPORTANTE: a veces al volver a encenderla salta el ventilador, por lo que debemos esperar a que haga la limpieza para volver a ponerlo en funcionamiento.
Deberemos apagar la estufa cada 6-8 horas de funcionamiento para que trabaje siempre bien. El tiempo que debemos dejar la estufa sin usarse debe ser al menos de 2-3 horas.
No podemos saber cuánto dura la carga: En función del frío, la máquina va trabajando más o menos, por lo que el consumo es diferente cada día del invierno.
EJEMPLO DE USO: En caso de que haga frío, poned el pellet por la mañana, por ejemplo a las 9:00, y quitadlo a las 14:00. Ya después de comer podéis ponerlo sobre las 17:00 y apagarlo antes de dormir. Entre que se inicia y empiezan a calentar los radiadores, tarda 25-30 minutos (cuando la caldera llega a los 55° aproximadamente).
*Hemos hecho una inversión muy fuerte para que todos nuestros clientes puedan disfrutar de una temperatura agradable en los meses más fríos. Gracias por ayudarnos a mantener la estufa.
Si vienes en VERANO tienes que saber:
Está totalmente prohibido llevar ningún tipo de cristal a la piscina o alrededores.
Está prohibido que los perros se bañen en la piscina.
