TRAVEL GUIDES DIRECTORY: CADIZ SPAIN ZAHARA

Zahara is an idyllic town in the Cádiz province in Andalucia, Spain. The town is one of the pueblos blancos, or white towns, because of the fact that most buildings in the town are white.

Currently, the population of Zahara is estimated to be about 1,600, spread out over an area of about 72 square kilometers at an elevation of 500 meters from sea level.

In the 7th century, the town of Zahara was an outpost of the occupying Muslims. It was a strategic location and the perfect site for a fortress. The hilltop position overlooking the valley gave a great vantage point when looking out for invaders. The Moors, Berbers actually, were a tribe of farmers that originated from North Africa.

The Moorish name was al-Zahar, indicating the presence of orange trees in the area. The British traveler Richard Ford once described Zahara as "a Moorish eagle's nest."

After constant fighting between the Christians and Moors over ownership of the town, the town was finally under Christian control in 1407, after the Catholic conquest of the area. In the 18th century the Duke of Arcos built a home in Zahara, conferring a sort of importance to the town.

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