by Travis Gill
With the temperatures in Seville being forecast to be over 40.5°C (105°F), I was starting to wonder why on Earth we were planning a trip there? Wouldn’t it be more comfortable riding along the cooler coast instead of sweating under heavy motorcycle gear inland?
Riding in hot temperatures can be unpleasant, no doubt, but a bit of uncomfortably was not worth missing out on a chance to visit the capital city of southern Spain’s Andalusia region – Seville. I unzipped all the vents on my mesh motorcycle jacket and pants then plotted our route through the towns of Setenil de las Bodegas, Olvera, and then into Seville.
Our journey of 165 km (103 miles) from Ronda to to Seville with stops at Setenil de las Bodegas and Olvera along the way.
Leaving Ronda to the north-east via the typical narrow roads and multilevel apartments so common in Europe cities.
Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain
It wasn’t long after leaving Ronda that we reached the town of Setenil de las Bodegas.
This town is famous for the row of white-washed buildings build under a large rocky overhang. This provides natural shade and protection from the weather for people enjoying the chorizo sausage and cerdo (pork) that this region is famous for.
The outlying farms provide Ronda and local towns with most of their fruit and vegetables.
The way this Suzuki was parked leaning against the stone wall made me chuckle a bit. I love the utilitarian look and rugedness of these smaller displacement workhorses.
We didn’t stay very long here; just enough time to walk a few streets and snap some pictures before getting back on the motorcycles and making our way to the next town of Olvera.
Enjoying the twisty, two-lane country roads of the Province of Cádiz.
Olvera, Spain
We were really impressed with Olvera. We arrived just before siesta so the streets were nearly abandoned.
Terra cotta clay flower pots full of plants and flowers decorate the white-washed walls of the town.
Like many European towns, the church is the central and highest part of Olvera. A short hike up the stairs brought us to the two prominent towers of the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
At the top is a nice plaza with sculptures and benches to sit and enjoy the surrounding views from the commanding position on the hill.
Unfortunately the church was closed to visitors but the Castillo de Olvera was open! A colorful entrance opens into the walls of the castle.
Clay roofing tiles are the standard here in southern Spain. They are quite elegant and create a patchwork of oranges, tans, and browns as they age in the weather and sun.
The castle had a few room that were converted to art galleries where artists could showcase their talents. This is a length of linen cloth covered with unique and interesting earth-like textures.
Another artist created these interesting pieces using embossing and folded cloth. I liked the texture and the black-wash technique to highlight the shadows.
From the castle there are great views of the church…
…surrounding homes and businesses…
… and of the multitude of olive groove orchards among the surrounding hills.
From the castle we noticed another hill in the town with a statue of Christ. We decided to make our way down into the streets and find our way to the statue.
I laughed out loud when I saw that this pigeon had found a great place to relax despite all the bird spikes designed for keeping him away.
The Monumento al Sagrado Corazón was surrounded by a wonderful park with flowing water and stairs that were cut from the rocky cliff walls.
Once we reached the Monumento al Sagrado Corazón, we found a shady area to enjoy some lunch.
On our way down the stairs we heard the sounds of singing birds…
It turns out their was a small bird aviary with lovebirds, parakeets, and some small parrots inside. We especially liked this playful Peach-Faced Lovebird with its many bright and beautiful colors.
We really enjoyed our afternoon and laid back feeling of Olvera. If you’re in the area, it is defiantly worth a short visit.
More riding ahead as we continued on our way towards Seville. The afternoon heat ensured we continued moving so we could enjoy the cooling effects of the wind across our sweating skin.
Next Blog Post
Join us for next week’s blog post as we discover the wonderful sights, sounds, and food of Seville, Spain.
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Ha, ha, ha, I like the pigeon photo, they should have put a crown of skewers on the head of the statue!