Rural “Las Tobas” houses are located in the southeast of the Sierra de Aracena Natural Park and Picos de Aroche, a protected area and weakly populated despite its 29 municipalities that occupy approximately 186,000 hectares.
The large size (2nd largest in Andalusia) of the Natural Park and its landscape diversity offers a wide variety of ecosystems, all of them are very accessible to the public. The spacious pastures of oak that predominate in the mountain range have favored the breeding of the international Iberian pig, around which a sustainable economy has risen based on sausages and of course ham denomination of origin. The landscape changes depending on the height and humidity, taking us by quiet forests, majestic forests of chestnut trees during the autumn, oak, cork, land of thick Mediterranean hills, etc…
As all well preserved ecosystem, the forest wealth of the mountain range offers also a wide and varied fauna. It is possible to observe mammals like mongoose, deer, wild boar, the genet or the elusive otter; birds such as the black stork, eagles, kites, or jay; In addition to amphibians such as the newt or salamander… to mention just a few.
The municipality of Higuera de la Sierra it is a discovery even for regulars of the sierra visitors, as this small town offers one of the most charming urban and best preserved enclaves of the Park. Its origin is associated with the crossroads of Roman roads, and after the passage of Arabs among the S. VIII and XIII, is not considered villa until 1553. It currently has a population of approximately 1300 inhabitants and the economy, as it could not be otherwise, closely linked to the resources offered by the pasture: Iberian pork (sausage and ham salting) and cork mainly.
The town, whose attractive made it holder of historic-artistic site in 2003, featuring the beautiful parish church of San Sebastián (declared of cultural interest in turn) and the hermitages of the Cristo del Rosario and San Antonio.
Its ethnological heritage, visible through the different eras that dot the surroundings, the set of 3 sources/sinks very well preserved and the alleys that historically have joined the village with the neighboring towns of Umbria and Jabuguillo for example.
Already on the outskirts the “Cruz de la Vega”, place of rest and encounter with wonderful views is to be the Mediterranean landscape and represents a cultural landmark for the Higuereños.
In addition, Higuera de la Sierra is the starting point for numerous hiking trails and is crossed by the GR-41.3, which runs through all the mountains and branches reaching almost all municipalities of the Natural Park.
The celebration per excellence is the three kings parade, which has gained increasing recognition and fame, and which each year is visited by thousands of people. Every January 5th, 16 floats made by families or groups of friends through the streets depicting scenes from the New Testament with such drama and ambiance that is hard to believe that they are non-professionals of the scenery.
The 2nd weekend of August is celebrated the feast of San Antonio, whose peak lies in the Sangría that neighbors drink all together on the long street, at the pace and rhythm of “charangas”.
Each summer, and with no fixed date is also celebrated a bullfighting festival with great popularity. The bullring, one of the most beautiful of the sierra, has also welcomed in recent years the charity music festival organised by the local association of young people.
CASAS RURALES LAS TOBAS. Ctra. Estación de la Junta, km 2. 21220 Higuera de la Sierra (Huelva). Tlf.: +34 687 882 996
