Mycological tour of Santa Rita in Cabra, Cordoba

The black truffle is worshipped by mushroom pickers. In the Subbaetic System, they are within reach of those who like to spend their free time enjoying mycology. Are you someone you loves having a holiday so you can head to the mountains, basket in hand? Well then, prepare the fern to line your basket and make for the Santa Rita trail, between Cabra and Priego de Córdoba, which is accessible due to its short duration and low difficulty level. There, you will find La Trufa Mycological Garden where you can discover the secrets of the appreciated mushroom. The season runs from November to January so… note it in your diary and plan your visit!

Where does the route start?

Santa Rita is 15 kilometres from Priego de Córdoba. It can be accessed via the A-339 road, on the section that joins Cabra and Priego, taking the exit at kilometre 11.2 to the Visitor Centre, nestled in Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. Only a couple of hours, with rests, are required to complete a circular route of a kilometre and a half. Don't forget to take some water and food: it will make your walk more pleasant, given there are no springs along the way.

Myco-tourism

Well, you've already decided to delve into the fascinating world of mycology… And the landscape you can see corresponds with typical Mediterranean landscapes: well conserved holm-oak woods, a beautiful undergrowth, and a pasture of herbaceous plants and small aromatic scrub. Breathe deeply and take in the scenery. Signposting is good, meaning you can easily follow the signs while you discover the flora and vegetation that live there. The trail's descent is particularly beautiful, with shaded areas and an army of mushrooms set around trees. When you finish your visit, it is essential that you leave everything as you found it, thus contributing to sustainable mycological tourism. It's what makes it special.

Types of mushrooms along the trail

Between bladder-senna, rose hip and hawthorns, and the fruit trees and plants that inhabit the route, are, of course, wild mushrooms. But what mushrooms? If you are looking for edible mushrooms in Cordoba, although this mycological route in Santa Rita has a huge variety of species, the culinary interest of many of them is limited due to their toxicity or because their flavour is not tempting (make sure you are well informed in order to distinguish the poisonous species). Those that are edible include the wood blewit (Lepista nuda) - although indigestible for certain stomachs, the meat from the hat is tasty - and the king trumpet, which is ideal as a sautéed starter. The varieties of boletus are highly sought after by mushroom seekers, and a classic in mushroom tourism: along the route you will find the whitish bolete, the boletus impolitus and the boletus luteocupreus, but eating them is not recommended. Depending on the season, whether it is autumn, winter or spring, some species will appear more frequently than others. People who know a lot about mushrooms have counted 24 different species along this trail.