Whitewashed buildings and red-tiled rooftops shining in the Spanish sun typify the laid back beauty of the pueblo blancos (white villages of Andalucia).

Cortes de la Frontera is a gorgeous traditional white village, one in a series scattered across the Cadiz and Malaga region.

Nestling between the Alcornocalescork forest and the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Parks, the village is surrounded by lush woodland and framed by the Serrania de Ronda mountains. The cork industry has been a major economic force in the region since the seventeenth century. Many of the elegant local buildings date from the eighteenth century when the cork businesses began to bring wealth to the region.

      The famous Ronda Bridge over the gorge

 

Cortes de la Fronters is split into two sections, with Estacion de Cortes de la Frontera forming a pretty little village in its own right, slightly separated from the larger part of the village. This is where the railway station and El Gecko Hotel are located.

El Gecko situated between the station and the river, has an interesting history dating back around 200 years. The building was orginally a travellers Inn, where travellers would arrive by donkey and tie up their animals on the river bank. Now the river bank has a tasteful patio and outside bar for modern day travellers to enjoy. Inside El Gecko the heritage and charm has been preserved while providing all the comforts required for modern day living. Travellers still arrive by foot although more often by train, at the station just 50 mtrs away.

The Estacion's historic charm is complemented by an assortment of handy shops a bank, post office and supermarket. In addition this sleepy little village also has an assortment of suppliers that arrive by van each day to sell their goods, including a fishmonger, fruiteria and butcher.

The top main village has a wider choice of shops as well as a historic bullring which still occasionally has bull fights but is more often used now for horse shows or even as a live music venue.

El Gecko offers a perfect location for enjoying traditional Spanish life in a pretty mountain village. Nearby there are numerous places of interest to visit, including the Caves of Pileta with pre-historic cave paintings or the Cueva del Gato caves where there is a mountain-water fed lagoon to swim in. Horse riding, climbing and some of the best walks in the area through the Guadiaro Valley are all close by.

Or you can visit the famous and historic town of Ronda by train or by car 40 mins.

Fishing, cycling, bird watching, off road motor cycling or painting holidays are all available from the hotel.

Approximately one hour away +/- are the larger Cities of Cadiz, Seville, Jerez and Malaga.

Gibraltar isjust over one hour by car.

For up to date information on the area and forthcoming events go to www.secretandalucia.com
our local website with plenty of useful information.