Alcaracejos: Culture, Trails and Landscape

Find more places for planning your trip here: Carcabuey, Puente Genil, La Guijarrosa, Cerro Muriano, El Carpio, Montoro, Ribera Baja and Cañete De Las Torres.

Nature

The landscape of Mozárabe Alcaracejos includes Mediterranean woodland and dehesa landscapes. It also features mountain olive groves and areas interspersed with maquis. The area between the Sierra and Alcaracejos offers opportunities for birdwatching within a diverse mosaic of landscapes. The different landscape forms shape the described character of the area just as much as the transitions between woodland, pastureland, olive groves and the areas interspersed with maquis.

Trails

The Camino Mozárabe to Santiago de Compostela runs through the municipal areas of Villaharta, Pozoblanco, Espiel and Alcaracejos. This stage of the route is 37 kilometres long. Another route, the Ruta Alcaracejos-Hinojosa del Duque, begins at Plaza de los Pedroches in Alcaracejos. Thus, both the intermunicipal route of the Camino Mozárabe and the named starting point of the additional route are located within the town area.

Culture

The Parroquia de San Andrés contains the preserved portal of a former church building. The portal is designed in the Gothic-Mudéjar style.

The Ermita de la Magdalena is located within the municipal cemetery. It preserves a carved figure of Santa María Magdalena.

The Ermita de San Sebastián is located beside a viewpoint. From there, the view extends across Alcaracejos and its surroundings.

Traditional houses in Alcaracejos have distinctive façades. Granite door lintels are a characteristic feature of these façades.

The façades of traditional houses in Alcaracejos provide the setting for the performance of the Auto Sacramental de los Coloquios de la Infancia de Jesús. The theatrical performance, organised by local residents, tells the story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.

The Museo de la Matanza permanently displays old equipment. This equipment is associated with the culinary traditions of Los Pedroches.

In this way, Alcaracejos's cultural character brings together religious buildings, traditional homes, a locally organised theatrical performance and a museum that preserves the culinary traditions of Los Pedroches through old equipment.

Wellness

The Centro Termal Los Pedroches is located in a former grain silo from the 1960s in Alcaracejos. The building was converted into a municipal thermal spa. The converted silo complex contains swimming pools, baths, Turkish baths and saunas.

The former grain silo therefore provides the architectural setting for today's thermal spa, while the aforementioned swimming pools, baths, Turkish baths and saunas make up the facilities of the converted silo complex.

Traditions

The Fiesta de la Matanza takes place in February. It reenacts traditional slaughtering practices involving Iberian pigs. The fiesta shows visitors the individual stages of a traditional slaughter. This presentation is accompanied by dances and regional folklore.

Cuisine

In Alcaracejos, products made from Iberian pork form the main basis for cured meat products. These include chorizo, morcilla, lomo embuchado and morcón.

Migas tostás is considered one of the emblematic dishes of this land of shepherds.

The culinary references therefore range from the equipment documented in the museum and the slaughtering practices depicted at the fiesta to the aforementioned cured meat products and the emblematic dish migas tostás.

For the overarching travel overview: Cordoba.