White villages

A route not to be missed is the route of the white villages that runs through a large part of the Sierra region and the Janda region in Cadiz and Ronda.

So called because of the white façades, something very characteristic of Andalusia. The villages included are Arcos de la Frontera, Bernaocaz, Ubrique, Zahara de la Sierra, Setenil de las Bodegas and Setenil de las Bodegas.

Although this route can be done in all Andalusian provinces, as they all have this type of architecture. On these routes you can enjoy rivers such as the Guadalete, which pass through some villages, practice sports such as hiking, walk through the picturesque streets of past centuries such as the Romans, Visigoths and Muslims who passed through these lands, parishes, and many traditional restaurants.

Gastronomic tourism is that which offers different travel routes to the usual ones, as they focus on the typical gastronomy of the place. On a gastronomic route the main objective is to get to know the typical food, preparation, bars and restaurants, and to taste typical food and products of the area.

Andalusian gastronomy is unique because it is very varied and differentiated, as it is one way on the coast and another inland. This gastronomy is part of the Mediterranean diet and is based on the use of olive oil, nuts, fish and meat. In confectionery highlights almonds and honey, of Arab origin.

· This type of tourism offers a unique quality of products and restaurants.

· While enjoying a good meal, the scenery and the climate in which it is served are also important.

· In Andalusia we also have a wide range of Designations of Origin, Protected Geographical Indications and Proprietary Brands.

Advantages, disadvantages and trends

Advantages

Gastronomic tourism promotes the consumption of the typical products of each region.

It also generates employment at various levels and contributes to stimulating the wealth of the area.

The mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest and most varied diets in the world. Disadvantages

Many businesses make typical food but of poor quality

When practising gastronomic tourism, in addition to the expenditure in this sector, travel costs are also included, which can involve considerable economic expenses. Trends

Customers tend to look for value for money and Andalusia is a very cheap place.

Customers are always looking for traditional cuisine but with innovation, a creation that combines the two.

Many customers are looking for knowledge on how to prepare plants and then include them in their diet.

Vines have been grown in this area since Roman times and wine has been produced here since Arab times. On these lands, olive groves occupy 2/3 of the cultivated area, without forgetting that these olive trees are thousands of years old.

Jaén, which carries this age-old tradition, is an ideal destination for visiting olive groves and vineyards, and has achieved three protected areas such as Vino de la tierra de Bailén, Vino de Sierra sur de Jaén and Vino de Torreperogil. Olive oil is a gourmet excellence that accompanies any lunch, aperitif and dessert, which is why every year the best designer bottles are sold in places like Paris, New York, Tokyo and Sydney.

There are tours where you can see how the olives are harvested, processed and finally tasted.