Visit a Rural Village in Andalusia, Ronda

Your day trip begins with an hour-long drive from Ronda to Olvera, a classic example of Andalusia's Pueblos Blancos. The village is filled with Roman, Moorish, and Christian landmarks, and a 19th-century church and medieval castle dominate its skyline. The characteristic whitewashing of the building dates back to the Romans, who painted them white to deal with the heat, and during the 14th century, residents continued painting them to ward off the plague.

Get an early start, so you have plenty of time to explore Olvera at your leisure. Park your car in one of the lots outside the Casco Antiguo (Old Town) and begin your ascent toward the Plaza de la Iglesia, where you'll find both the church and the castle. Like most of Spain's Pueblos Blancos, Olvera is built on a hillside, so wear good walking shoes to navigate its steep and sometimes slippery cobblestone streets. 

When you reach the Plaza de la Iglesia, you can visit both the 12th-century Moorish Castillo de Olvera and the 19th-century neoclassical Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. Both offer fantastic views of the town and surrounding countryside filled with olive groves. Inside the castle, you'll also find the Museo La Frontera y Los Castillos, which outlines the Olvera's history. Next, walk around the Barrio de la Villa, the old Muslim quarter below the church, and follow the village's narrow, winding streets lined with white buildings and colorful flowers.

After taking in panoramic views from the church, castle, and Plaza de la Iglesia, make your way down the Calle de Llanas, the main street of the old center. Here, you'll find cafés and shops, and you can purchase Olvera's famed olive oil. Stop for lunch at one of the restaurants here, or perhaps check out the Plaza de Ayuntamiento, which is home to a handful of traditional tapas bars.

If you're feeling active, extend your trip with a walk or cycle along the Vía Verde de la Sierra or the Sierra Greenway. This 22-mile (36 km) mostly flat path starts at the train station and runs alongside disused railway lines built during the beginning of the 20th century and abandoned due to the Spanish Civil War. You can rent bikes at the starting point to follow this trail, which leads through tunnels and along viaducts surrounded by some of Andalusia's most beautiful countryside.