Gaucin Places to visit

Places to visit in Gaucin

Iglesia de San Sebastian (The Church of San Sebastian)
Built after the reconquest (1487) on the site of the mosque which was built on the site of the earlier visigoth church. The interior has vestiges of Mudéjar influence in its use of wood. During the Civil War the church was sacked and the organ thrown into the street and destroyed. The bell tower still dominates the town skyline, although the latest planning permission to construct a third story on top of existing old houses in the town may soon change that. Currently the Iglesia de San Sebastian is famous for its angelic priest and its enthusiastic choir.

Castillo el Alguila (Aguila Castle)
The castle offers a wonderful panoramic view of the area, with splendid vistas of the Serranía de Ronda and the Campo de Gibraltar. Ancient Iberian ceramics have been found in the castle's water deposit. The Romans were the first to build a castle stronghold on the rock of Gaucín, later the Visigoths occupied it, then the Arab Moors built the remains that can be seen today. French invaders and Carlist rebels also occupied the castle. The Castillo el Alguila has been used as a refuge for the population and their animals in times of threat, it has also been used as a hospital. The chapel within the castle precincts is devoted to the Santo Niño, (Saint Child). The castle is open from 10:30 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00.

El Convento de las Carmelitas (The Convent of the Carmelitas)
The town hall owns the convent which is currently used for municipal functions, such as flamenco concerts and New Years Eve parties. Built in the early 1700s, by the end of the century the convent had 19 resident monks. In 1835, with the dissolution of the monasteries, it was abandoned. Monumental in form, it was recently restored in an insensitive modernistic style, which everyone in town dislikes. The interior is currently being given a facelift.

Fuente de los seis Caños (Fountain of the six spouts)
Built c. 1628 in an Andalucian baroque style, the Fuente de los seis Caños is located in main square. Made of sandstone it has six classical faces.

Food Markets
The municipal market has only 5 stalls, Rosa Gordo the churro maker, Salvador the butcher, Belen the greengrocer, Rosa the fishmonger and Rosalía the organic health store.

Rosa Gordo's churros are tastier than the famous churrería on Calle de la Bola, in Ronda. Rosa Gordo is open until 11 in the morning. There are long ques on Sunday morning, so get in early. Rosa also sells churros during the fair from midnight until dawn.

Salvador the butcher (687 606 907) supplies all kinds of meat, including pork, chicken from his parents' finca, and some of the best quality beef possible from a finca in Cortes. Some items are delivered from Ronda.

Belen the greengrocers stand sells the best fruit and vegetables in town, much better than even Corte Inglés on the Coast. Mostly local produce as well as some exotic fruit.

Rosa's fish stand is not very big and doesn't have much of a selection. For fish alternatives, a truck from Algeciras with very good fish appears at the gas station, every Tuesday and Thursday in the afternoon. Also another fish supplier, Dieguichi, comes every afternoon from Estepona and goes to selected streets. He also supplies the Casablanca and Fructuosa restaurants.

Rosalía, of the organic health store, is a Madrileña, and has organic products procured from local sources. She also has exotic natural products such as tahine, brown rice and green tea, etc.