Page 490 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

488  SOUTHERN SP AIN

z Priego de Environs
Córdoba Zuheros, perched on a crag in
the limestone hills northwest
Córdoba. * 23,000. @ n Plaza of Priego, is one of Andalucía’s
de la Constitución 3, 957 70 06 25. pret tiest villages. Rute, to the
( Sat. _ Feria Real (1–5 Sep). southwest, is known for its
∑ turismodepriego.com
anís (see p581).
Alcalá la Real, in the lowlands
Priego de Cordóba’s claim to be east of Priego, is overlooked by
the capital of Cordoban Baroque the hilltop ruins of a castle and
is borne out by the dazzling work a church. There are two hand­
of carvers, ironworkers and some Renaissance buildings on
gilders in the many houses, and its central square: the Fuente de
especially churches, built with Carlos V and the Palacio Abacia.
wealth generated by a pros­
perous 18th­century silk industry.
A restored Moorish fortress x Montefrío
stands in the whitewashed Granada. * 7,000. @ n Plaza
Baroque statuary in the Fuente del Rey medieval quarter, the Barrio de España 1, 958 33 60 04. ( Mon.
at Priego de Córdoba la Villa. Close by is the out stand­ _ Fiesta patronal (14–18 Aug).
ing Iglesia de la Asunción,
l Montilla converted from Gothic to The approach to Montefrío from
Córdoba. * 23,000. £ @ n Capi­ Baroque style by Jerónimo the south offers wonder ful views
tán Alonso de Vargas 3, 957 65 24 62. Sánchez de Rueda. Its pièce de of tiled rooftops and pretty white­
( Fri. _ Grape Harvest (late Aug). résistance is the sacristy, created washed hous es. This archetypal
in 1784 by local artist Andalucían town is topped by
Montilla is the centre of an Francisco Javier the remains of its
important wine region that Pedrajas. The main Moorish fortifica tions
produces an excellent smooth altar is Plateresque and the 16th­century
white fino (see p424). Unlike (see p29). Gothic Iglesia de
sherry, it is not fortified with At midnight every la Villa. In the centre of
alcohol. Several bodegas, Saturday the brother­ town is the Neo­
including Alvear and Pérez hood of another Classical Iglesia de la
Barquero, will show visitors Baroque church, the Encar nación, designed
around by prior arrangement. Iglesia de la Aurora, by Ventura Rodríguez
The Mudéjar Convento de parades the streets (1717–85). The town is
Santa Clara dates from 1512. singing songs in known for its chorizo,
The town library and tourist praise of the Virgin. as well as its numerous
office is in the Casa del Inca, so Silk merchants built La Asunción, stone crosses, thought
named because Garcilaso de la many of the splendid Priego de Córdoba to have been con­
Vega, who wrote about the mansions that follow structed in the 16th
Incas, lived there in the 1500s. the curve around the Calle del and 17th centuries.
Río. At the street’s end is the
Environs Baroque Fuente del Rey (The Environs
Aguilar, 13 km (8 miles) to the King’s Fountain). The 139 spouts Santa Fé was built by the
south, has the unusual, eight­sided splash water into three basins Catholic Monarchs at the end
Plaza de San José (built in 1810) adorned with a riot of statuary. of the 15th century. Their army
and several seigneurial houses.
Baena, 40 km (25 miles) to
the west of Montilla, has been
famous for its olive oil since
Roman times. On the Plaza
de la Constitución is the Casa
del Monte, an mansion dating
from the 18th century. At
Easter thousands of costumed
drummers take to the streets.

 Bodega Alvear
Avda María Auxiliadora 1. Tel 957 65
01 00. Open Mon–Fri. 8 12:30pm.
 Bodega Pérez Barquero
Avenida de Andalucía 27. Tel 957 65
05 00. Open Mon–Fri. Closed Aug. & Barrels of Montilla, the sherry-like wine from the town of the same name
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp572–4 and pp598–602

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