Setenil de Las Bodegas is a small cave village in the province of Cádiz and a perfect day trip! Yes, you heard that correctly! It is completely built into rock and is such a stunning sight!
Along with its gorgeous rock features its typical white washed houses are breathtaking from any view point. There are many cultural sites to visit and miradores to check out so I would totally suggest starting early before lunch time.
Table of Contents: Day Trip Itinerary
- Cuevas del Sol y de la Sombra
- Casa de la Damita de Setenil & Torre Aribe
- Restaurante Casa Palmero
The trip to Setenil de Las Bodegas started early, heading out from the province of Málaga and arriving around noon. Parking was fairly easy because we did travel on a weekday and there were plenty of free parking spots available.
1. Cuevas del Sol y de la Sombra
These are the two most typical streets in Setenil. Their names come from the amount of sun and shade they receive. The exact translation is caves of sun and shade. They are famous for their gorgeous rock overhangs!
If you are interested in more day trips in Andalucía check out Mijas Pueblo, Málaga.
This is the main entrance to the town as well as a major point of interest for travelers. There are a variety of restaurants and little shops to grab a coffee or lunch. They provide a perfect contrast of sun and shade throughout the year.
If you continue parallel to this street, you will find the second street. This is a gorgeous passageway completely covered by a large rock overhang. Hence the name “Sombra” in English means shade. Upon wandering this street, don’t forget to check out some of the awesome tourist shops and grab a souvenir. What you will find inside is pretty cool too!
3. Casa de la Damita and Torre Aribe
*Entry is 2 euro per person and it includes access to see La Damita and la Torre Aribe. They are located right across from each other. It´s a great little jump back in time if you are interested in checking it out and in total took about 30 minutes.
Casa de la Damita holds a collection of archeological finds from earlier excavations. Its story dates back to prehistoric times. This is the most significant artifact found in Setenil and it’s called the Damita or little lady. This clay figure dates back to 3,000 B.C. in relation to another figure called Venus in the caves of Nerja. This provides evidence of life and settlers in the caves since the Neolithic era.
La Torre Aribe was built during the Moorish Rule in Spain and has 3 floors. The views are incredible of the town and surrounding areas.
3. Restaurante Casa Palmero
After a few hours exploring the town and taking lots of pictures it was time for lunch. From the various viewpoints around the village, I saw a beautiful little plaza not too far from the tourist center and la Casa de la Damita. There were a few eateries and tables available. After checking a few reviews online, we went with Restaurante Casa Palmero. It was the most picture-perfect day, the sun shining bright without a cloud in the sky, birds chirping, and a cerveza in hand to start the holiday break!
Finally, one of my favorite parts of the day trip to Setenil! To share, we went with a starter of delicious Migas Setenileñas, the plate was a generous size and perfect for two. Migas translates literally into crumbs in English. This bread dish is made with garlic, olive oil, and topped with different meats like chorizo and morcilla. Followed by a typical sopa casera de Cortijera which is a typical homemade soup that includes a mix of vegetables, egg, and small pieces of chopped iberian ham. Totally would recommend this soup, it was really delicious.
I can never pass up croquetas especially when they are stuffed with rabo de toro! Super filling and delicious, this translates into Oxtail. It’s a very common dish in Spanish cuisine that derives from Cordoba and originated in Roman times. Croquetas are one of my top 5 favorite fried foods in Spain, so whenever I have the chance to order them casera, I take it!
Sentenil de Las Bodegas is an awesome day trip for couples, those with children, and larger groups. I would recommend visiting during the weekdays as it tends to be busier on Saturday and Sunday. It is a bit hilly as you are in the mountains so definitely a comfortable walking shoe as well!
