Benaocaz

Benaocaz

Benaocaz is located to the north-western area of Cádiz, to 793 metres altitude, in the most western area of the Cordillera Bética, equidistant with regard to the city centres of Sevilla (130 kms.), Málaga (140 Kms.) and Cádiz (125 Kms). it has an area of 69’40 Km2, 642 inhabitants and its population density is 10 inhabitants/Km2.

At North it borders on Grazalema, at South on Ubrique, at East on Villaluenga del Rosario and at West on El Bosque. Its entire municipal district belongs to the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema, with the exception of the most western place that belongs to the Alcornocales Natural Park. Benaocaz is included in the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos de Cádiz.

This town was founded by the Arabs in the VIII century. The first town would grow under the protection of the castle known nowadays with the name of Tavizna.

Benaocaz was conquered by the Christian troops in 1485, it would start to form part of the lordship Ponce de León’s house, a location that keeps until the XIX century, when the town obtained the title of independent town.

Interesting Routes

Salto del Cabrero
Roman Paved Road
Casa del Dornajo – Casa Fardela;
Routes of Las Plazas
Routes of Los Nacimientos

Monuments

San Pedro Parish Church
San Blas Chapel
Hermitage of El Calvario
Town Hall
Nasrid Neighborhood
Roman Paved Road
Castle of Tavizna

Benaocaz Fountains

Tejar Fountain
San Diego Fountain
Las Piletas Fountain
The Fountain Over There

Sendero Ojo del Moro (Trail)

Ojo del Moro Viewpoint

Benaocaz Gastronomy

Sausages. Gazpacho. Ajos Caliente (roast peppers, hard-boiled eggs, ham, etc). Asparagus soup. Stew. Olla. Scrambled eggs with asparagus. Refrito Benaocaceño (bread, fresh bacon, garlic, water and salt).

Sweets: Roscos trenzados. Suspiros.

How to get there

Benaocaz is located to 110 kilometres from the capital and if you want to get there by car you have to take the AP4 towards Jerez, once there, take the motorway Jerez-Arcos (A-382) and then the local roads A-374 towards Ubrique and finally the A-374 until you get Benaocaz.

Distances

Cádiz 111 km
Ronda 41 km
Sevilla 125 km
Grazalema 19 km

The Roman-Medieval road between Benaocaz and Ubrique

The Roman-Medieval road which connects Benaocaz and Ubrique was a stretch of the route that connected Carteia, near San Roque and the main port on the Straits of Gibraltar in ancient times, and Corduba -modern-day Cordoba. The oldest remains date back to the 1st Century B.C., although during the Middle Ages the road was extended to reach other settlements in the area. At the time of its construction, for which the builders took advantage of the favourable terrain offered by the natural corridor of La Manga de Villaluenga, it was the most important route in the territory. There is documentation relating to periodical repairs utp to at least the 18th Century, from wich we can assume that it continued to be a main route of communincation between Ubrique and Benaocaz until the coming of the first real roads.

The surface of the road is constructed with irregular shaped flagstones which were then covered by various layers of earth and stones. The erosion of the surface has left the structural materials exposed. On both sides of the road there are ditches to channel the rain water, these, along with the system of drains, have prevented floods and have made possible the current excellent state of conservation.

These days the road has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. The return route is some seven kilometres long, which can be covered in about two hours. The walk presents a good opportunity to enjoy the local flora, which includedes the wild olives, carob trees, broom and rockroses, and also for bird-watching with species like the nightigale, robin and goldfinch. In addition the route passes very close to the ancient Roman city of Ocuri.

According to the legend, the head of a bull painted on a rocky wall situated half way along the route commemorates a confrontation between Benaocaz and Ubrique which ended up with a stone fight. These days passers-by still throw stones at the image, in the hope of hitting it and being granted a wish.