Tambor del Llano in the Natural Park of Sierra de Grazalema

The first Biosphere Reserve declared as such in Spain, in January 1977. The Natural Park covers an area of more than 53,000 hectares, divided between the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga. It is one of the best preserved and most biodiverse forests in Europe, with more than 1500 plant and animal species, some of them unique, such as the imposing Spanish fir.

Immense cork oak forests, open valleys and large plains marked by limestone mountain ranges. Cañadas reales, bridle paths that connect the white villages of the sierra, routes between valleys and ancient paths that take us into the legends and traditions.

Special Protection Area for birds and integrated in the Natura 2000 Network, which guarantees the conservation of biodiversity in the European Union.

On the route of the White Villages of the Serrania de Ronda

The White Villages of the Sierra of Cadiz and Malaga constitute a large region characterised by a high degree of conservation of nature and heritage. They are located on the slopes of the mountains and have a very unique popular architecture, characteristic of Andalusia. Typical architecture of low whitewashed houses, with narrow, zigzagging and sloping streets.

Tambor del Llano and Grazalema

There have been human settlements in this territory since prehistoric times, but its historical roots emerge with Romanisation. Scipio founded the village of Lacilbula (the old name for the river Guadalete, Cilbus for the Romans) on the hill of Clavijo, a fortified enclosure that gave rise to the present-day village. It was re-founded by the Arabs as Gran Zulema and conquered in 1485 by the Duke of Arcos for the Christian kingdom of Castile.

Between the 17th and 19th century Grazalema had its economic boom thanks to the wool and cloth industry which produced the famous Grazalema blanket. It is said that Grazalema is the rainiest village in Spain, and this is one of the secrets of the quality of its blankets, the wool being washed and cleaner than that of other areas where it rains less. From the 19th century onwards, with industrialisation, many textile companies in Grazalema were forced to close and the population began to emigrate decade after decade. Today, the only company producing blankets is Artesanía Textil de Grazalema, one of the oldest artisan textile companies in Spain.

Grazalema and its region are known for its famous payoyo cheese, internationally awarded as one of the best artisan cheeses.

Tambor del Llano and the legend of the Tempranillo.

In the highest part of the estate are the ruins of an old farmhouse called in the local cartography and toponymy, the houses of José María. It is said that this may have been the farmhouse where the famous bandit José María Hinojosa El Tempranillo once lived.

A romantic and tragic story that narrates the attack of the Migueletes (a corps of soldiers created by Fernando VII to fight bandits) on the Cortijo de Grazalema where the bandit and his wife were about to give birth.

Amidst the gunfire, the woman died in childbirth and the child managed to survive. El Tempranillo tied the body of his dead lover on his back and carried his son in the sash, fleeing from the farmhouse on his horse. The next day he returned and handed Maria's body to the family, and on 10 January he went to baptise his son in the church of Grazalema. The people of the village joined in the bandit's grief and no one alerted the authorities. El Tempranillo' was born in Jauja, Córdoba, but on 6 January 1832 his legend was forever linked to Grazalema.

Tambor del Llano, land of vineyards

Grazalema has a centuries-old winemaking tradition. The Cadastre of Ensenada of 1720, already spoke of the exceptional wine from one of the highest vineyards in the province, located in the Natural Park of Grazalema, in the Serrania de Ronda in the area called "Los Terrajos". The terraces built on the slopes for the cultivation of the vines can still be seen in perfect condition.

In recent years, the recovery of the vineyards and the production of Grazalema wine for commercialisation has begun, although production has been reduced to self-consumption by the few farmers who have kept some vines. For this reason, the Zalema, Beba Mantua, Perruna and Macabeo grape vines have been preserved, which, during maceration, give some very characteristic nuances of the area.

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