The White Villages of Andalusia, the history of mankind in limestone walls

In the far south of Spain, in Andalusia, the houses of 19 towns are a sign of the passage of time in human life. Pueblos Blancos, they are called, these groups of houses with walls that were painted with whitewash more than six centuries ago and which now form part of a route coveted by those of us who love to travel between narrow streets with pretty houses and cobblestones, walls and natural landscapes.

Andalusia, situated in a privileged location at the southernmost tip of Europe, facing Africa, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, has always been coveted. It has passed through the hands of Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Visigoths, Moors and Christians, leaving in their wake both physical and cultural vestiges, which are still imprinted in the traditions, customs and walls. The Pueblos Blancos crown peaks that rise along with walls and castles, all built to defend themselves from the ever-wanting enemies.

This postcard of white houses, already one of Spain's most iconic images, actually has a complicated history behind it, and one that responds to crises. The whiteness of these villages is due to something we know all too well in the 21st century: epidemics. The Pueblos Blancos got their colour from the calcium hydroxide -lime, then- that was applied left and right to ward off the plagues and diseases that plagued mankind from the 16th to the 19th century.

This is a brief and concise list of five White Villages of Andalusia, to learn from the past and to know ourselves as victorious communities, which still hold their white walls high.

This is one of the most famous of the White Villages of Andalusia, mainly because it is one of the largest. Ronda was born in the hands of the Romans, and went through history being invaded and exchanged by different cultures, but always remaining a key and fervent place. It stands on a plateau divided by the river Guadalevín, adorned by monuments and white houses, and a bucolic and vibrant environment.

In Ronda, as well as walking through its narrow streets, you must visit the Alameda del Tajo, the church of La Merced, the Jardines de la Cuenca, the Plaza del Socorro and its church, and the bridges, the Nuevo and Viejo, which tell the story of how humans managed to connect us between huge mountain ranges and canyons. But the best thing here are the viewpoints that allow you to admire this white and ancient village, where there are Roman, Visigoth and Arab traces, and its natural forms, which give it unique and spectacular shapes.

The Arabs were famous for their clever building techniques, which allowed for air flow and long shaded areas that gave their normally very hot villages coolness in the summer seasons. More than six centuries later, this architecture, with which Frigiliana, in Malaga, was built, gives us narrow cobbled streets, with two-storey white houses with tiled roofs, through which you walk with your eyes wide open, as patios and viewpoints appear by surprise, overlooking the nature reserves that surround this charming white village.

Frigiliana is a rich multicultural village. In fact, every last weekend in August, the town dresses up to celebrate the Day of the Three Cultures: Muslim, Jewish and Christian. The rest of the year you can see this cosmogonic mix in its rich gastronomy, in its neighbourhoods and cobbled streets. Frigiliana is the perfect example of the magic of diversity.

This is officially one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. One of the wonders of Mojácar, apart from its whitewashed houses and arabesque streets, are its six blue flag beaches. Overlooking the Mediterranean, this white village has other smells and tastes, very different from the others; its best tourist attraction.

The artistic heritage, including the Renaissance church of Santa María, the Mojácar castle and the Puerta de la Ciudad, blend perfectly with the natural surroundings. Very close to Mojácar is the impressive Pulpí Geode, a rocky cavity carpeted with crystals and precious stones, and happens to be one of the largest in the world. Also nearby is the Tabernas Desert, the only ecosystem of its kind in Europe.

In the heart of Cádiz, lies the village of Olvera, on the border between Seville and Málaga. The hills surrounding the little white houses huddled on the sides of the winding streets are fertile for the planting of olive trees, which gave this Pueblo Blanco its name. This is said to be the gateway to the Route of the White Villages of Andalusia, which groups together 19 localities.

Although the town itself is quite a monument, during your visit to Olvera you must see the Moorish castle, which is perched on a gigantic stone that has been there since the 12th century. Nor should you miss a visit to the cemetery, which blends in with the white walls of the rest of the village and has a particular shape and structure, very Andalusian. Of course, like any good village in this area, there are many churches, walls and Arab vestiges to visit, hidden around corners or crowning its squares.

This white village, home to around 1400 people, lies on the slopes of the Sierra de las Cabras, surrounded by the Sierra del Balconcillo and the Cerro del Águila, always irrigated by the river Guadalcacín. Deep in the depths of Cádiz, Algar takes its name from the Arabic word for cave, which means cave, because of the earth cavities that appear all the time in this mountainous area of Cádiz.

A particularity of this beautiful village is that since its foundation, it was very much influenced by Mexico. The wealthy Indian trader Domingo López de Carvajal, after almost being shipwrecked on his return from the then New Spain, entrusted himself to the Virgin of Guadalupe and promised her that if he reached land alive he would found a new town in her honour. He did so, and now in September they celebrate her and the mountains that protect this curious locality.