Casares is famed for its whitewashed buildings on the sloping hillside (Image: Getty)
A stunning village nestled in Andalusia, , has recently been crowned the in the region, according to a survey by travel portal Noradoa.
With around 8,000 inhabitants, this charming Andalusian village borders the province of , about a 40-minute drive from Marbella.
Often referred to as the “cradle of Andalusia”, Casares sits on a hillside with narrow, winding streets that snake through its whitewashed buildings.
It earned 4,922 votes out of nearly 5,000 participants, winning it the top spot out of 99 villages in the survey.
National Geographic also ranked it in the 100 most beautiful towns in Spain, praising the charm of its “narrow and winding centuries-old slopes”.
Its known as the “cradle of Andalucia” (Image: Getty)
Don’t miss…
Casares is about 40 minutes from Marbella (Image: Getty)
The publication also mentioned Casares Castle, a Moor fortress first built in the 1200s and used to defend the then-ruling Nasrid kingdom.
National Geographic added: “It is difficult to imagine Casares without its viewpoints, from where you can get a panoramic view tinged with an enchanting whitewash, with the layout of its houses resembling stacked sugar cubes.”
The church named Iglesia de la Encarnación is also of historical significance, dating back to the 17th century, with a beautiful Mudejar-style bell tower.
, Casares also has the Baños de la Hedionda, a Roman spa famous for its sulphurous waters, believed to possess healing properties.
The site in the valley of the Río de Manilva is free to visit but requires reservations during the high season from June to September.
Casares (Image: Getty)
It has stunning views over the Mediterranean (Image: Getty)
Don’t miss…
Votes for the study were collected between December 11 and 27 this year. Olvera in Cadiz also fared well with 3,711 votes, and Vejer de la Frontera received 875 votes.