Santa Olalla del Cala - provincia de Huelva M4 - 2022/23
Santa Olalla del Cala lies in the north of Huelva province, in the foothills of the Sierra Morena, close to the border with Extremadura, with the nearby River Cala giving the town its distinctive name. It is a traditional whitewashed Andalusian town, with narrow streets, tiled roofs and simple houses clustered beneath the remains of its medieval castle. The principal church, Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, stands within the old town, while the castle reflects Santa Olalla’s historic position on the route between Seville and Mérida. The surrounding dehesa is dominated by holm and cork oaks, supporting cattle and Iberian pigs alongside olives and other dryland crops. Its character comes from the combination of whitewashed architecture, medieval history and the wooded landscape of the Sierra Morena.
We have passed Santa Olalla del Cala, with its magnificent castle, so many times while driving down the Ruta de la Plata towards Conil, or back again, that we have often said to ourselves, “Oh, we must visit that one day.” Finally, while staying in Zafra, we had the opportunity to make the short detour, and it was well worth it. From the road, the castle rises starkly above the whitewashed town; up close, its massive stone walls and towers are even more impressive. The church that abuts it adds another striking element to the scene, creating a dramatic contrast between the weathered stone of the fortress and the bright white buildings clustered around it.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
