Our beautiful Suryalila Retreat Center is located in the middle of the Andalusian Hills, surrounded by breathtaking nature and one of the region's most unique characteristic: The white villages of Andalusia. This time we picked out one village in particular to introduce you to:
Say hello to our neighbour Prado del Rey
Prado del Rey is a picture-postcard traditional white washed village sitting pretty amongst hills dotted with olive groves and undulating mountains. Many of our staff live here, and as you stroll through the lemon-tree lined streets, you’ll see why. With roots tracing back to the Roman city of Iptuci, Prado del Rey has been declared a site of ‘cultural interest’ - and for such a pint-sized pueblo it certainly has a lot going on… from honey festivals and concerts to award-winning theatre shows and art exhibitions, every weekend is fiesta time! Its most impressive monument is the ornate yellow and white Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish Church situated in the bustling town square. It’s home to a couple of Prado’s most famous residents, a pair of beautiful stocks who’ve built an enormous nest practically on the church’s steeple! The evenings come alive with locals enjoying tapas and ‘canas’ in one of the village’s many restaurants, bars and cafes located in and around the main pedestrianised boulevard. Here you’ll also find shops, banks, pharmacies, bakeries and more…
The top three things we love to do in Prado are:
Taking the scenic country walk from Suryalila to the village centre and enjoying griddled ‘alcachofas’ (artichokes) sat at one of the sun dappled tables at Carmen’s restaurant.
A hike through Las Lomas, a beautiful nature park filled with stunning rock formations and free roaming horses, goats and pigs with majestic views over the mountains of the Grazalema National Park.
A fun evening of wine-tasting at the family-run ‘Bodegas Rivero’. The oldest active winery in Cadiz Province, it’s like stepping into a living museum as you’re taken on a fascinating journey of this region’s rich wine history whilst sampling the delicious array of lovingly produced organic red, white and rose wines. These are usually served with delicious bite-size ‘tapa’ of local delicacies such as ‘tortilla de patatas’ and Poyoyo cheese, an award winning speciality hard cheese made with milk from the native Poyoyo mountain goats.
Distance: 10 minute drive, or an hour(ish) on foot from Suryalila Retreat Center.
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