Sierra Morena is a natural scenery in the Peninsula's southernmost region. It is a mountain range where you may enjoy rough landscapes that have witnessed various historical events, culturally significant sites that are still preserved now, and where you can fully appreciate rural tourism.
The Sierra Morena region is located in the north-western part of the province of Jaén, although it is also divided between other provinces such as Ciudad Real, Seville, Cordoba, and Badajoz, and spans over 400 kilometres for tourists to enjoy the Sierra Morena in all its glory.
Owing to Sierra Morena's location and geographical profile, you will encounter a wide range of landscapes on your journey. These include meadows of various species, home to the pigs that produce the best ham you have ever tasted.
Throughout the history of the Sierra Morena, there have been many thousand-year-old settlements that have left their marks here. With historical civilisations that have had some of the most significant wars here, it has left a distinct personality in its inhabitants and the various villages that you will be able to visit.
In Sierra Morena, there are over 70 communities where you can enjoy Monumental, Ethnographic, and Cultural Heritage, and rich food that is a must-try.
If you wish to learn more about Sierra Morena, buckle up! You will be able to travel back in time by seeing the various archaeological sites in the area that correspond to the Iberians and Romans. But that's not all: a walk through historic villages like Linares and Bailén, both in the province of Jaén, reveals an architectural configuration that is the community's past. You can see defensive towers, walls, and cathedrals, to name a few things.
The Battle of Navas de Tolosa and the Battle of Bailén are two of the most important wars fought in the Sierra Morena. Sierra Morena was the backdrop for portions of Cervantes' most renowned novel, but the historical legacy does not end there.
We would like to highlight some of its key events that are, in fact, of National Tourist Interest, such as the Easter Week in Montoro, in the Sierra Morena region of Cordoba.
We already mentioned Sierra Morena hams, which are popular due to the superb quality of this Iberian pig product. During your trip, you can also sample its famed oils which come from the area's enormous olive orchards. These are two of its gastronomic cornerstones; however, the Sierra Morena's recipe book is quite wide, featuring native items such as mushrooms and chestnuts.
Finally, it's worth noting that the majority of the Sierra Morena is protected, and it's the native habitat of species like wolves, with an added advantage if you decide to visit: it is a Starlight destination due to the clearness of its skies, also because of the low light pollution, which reinforces tourism in the area.
