Casa Berrea: Cortijos

Today was devoted to exploring cortijos either old and abandoned or old and renovated in the area around our house. Along the way we saw deer and birds of prey, as well as lizards and plenty of huge pine cones for the next guests to use as fire starters. We are going to be very sorry to leave this peaceful spot tomorrow.

A signboard near the trail listed the common characteristics of traditional cortijos for us to look for:
- located next to a water source for people, livestock, and agriculture, like the Arroyo de Aguascebas Grande that we walked up today.
- at a considerable altitude for summer grazing
- nestled in a forest area for firewood and surrounded by fertile land.
- shed-roofed structures at the rear of the farmhouse where cattle were collected at night
- austere facades
- square windows with wooden lintels
- thick walls made with native stone and lime and mud mortar to isolate the interior from extreme temperatures
- roofs covered with Arabic tiles

Today’s Wikiloc track:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/cortijos-…Read more