The frontier. Cadiz and Malaga

The names of some Andalusian towns recall their past situation on the frontier between Christians and Moors ("Frontera" means frontier).

Established in the 13th century, the frontier between Castile and the Nazari Kingdom of Granada was somewhat oscillating. This tour, through the lovely hills of Cádiz and Málaga that plunge down towards Gibraltar, had one of the most "mobile" flanks, where the "Battle of the Strait" was waged.

Olvera is a whitewashed picture of the Middle Ages: the township is clustered on the hillside and way up on top, there emerges a church and the remains of a castle. Not many kilometres away, near Alcalá del Valle, stand the ruins of an old 16th century Franciscan convent.

Once-powerful Ronda still has remains of its walls. The castles of Atajate and Benadalid have been turned into cemeteries and, much like the defensive bastions at Gaucín, Jimena and Castellar, are right at the top of hills.

Near the walled village of Castellar, we come upon the remains of the 16th century Mercedarian convent of La Almoraima. Finally, in Tarifa, facing Africa, the 11th century castle of Guzmán the Good recalls the legendary gesture whereby this Castilian lord elected to sacrifice a son rather than to surrender.