Ubrique- a quaint mountain town with leather artisans

 The wonderful thing about Southern Spain is that there are so many little villages to discover. Each town has its own character and its own specialties, which makes every trip a unique experience. I had read a little about Ubrique, and knew that the town specialized in producing leather products. So when my sister came to visit, I knew this was at the top of our list of places to go shopping together. What I didn't realize is that the town itself would be such an architectural gem in the middle of the Sierra de Grazelema mountains.In the picture at left, you can see the red and white architecture of the iconic San Antonio church, which has lovely gardens and is located near the highest point of the city. The rest of the city spreads out into the valley, and straddles the Rio Ubrique, the tiny river canal that runs through town.

If you need parking, there is a large dirt lot at the lower, Eastern end of the city, at the end of Doctor Zarco Bohorquez street. Parking is free, and you can easily walk to leather shops or to anywhere else in the city.


Ubrique is a beautiful pueblo blanco, a white-washed village built right up against a steep mountain cliff. You can easily wander the streets working your way up towards the church of San Antonio. When you reach the top of the town, you will see that some houses are literally built into the mountainside. This one in particular is built around a rock that juts out of the mountain cliff!

If you are looking for the leather shops, stay in the lower section of town, near the river. There are several good ones side by side on Doctor Solis Pascual and Avenida Espana. The shops sell a variety of gorgeous leather products: purses, wallets, belts, jackets, gloves, and even accessories like cell phone cases and desk supply organizers. Everything is hand-made, sometimes with layers and colors of leather, and there are stamped and embossed products as well. If you go during July or January, you can benefit from the National sales that give huge discounts on the entire inventory of every store. Also, be aware that the stores will all be closed during siesta, from 2-5 pm, so be prepared to get into town early and do your shopping before 2 pm. Ubrique is about 90 minutes from Rota,



The streets are rather steep, but the views make the climb completely worthwhile. You definitely get a classic Andalusian feel in this town: white-washed walls, steep narrow cobblestone streets, unexpected gardens and bright potted plants around every corner. There are plenty of restaurants in the lower area of the city near the leather shops, but there are also tiny bakeries to enjoy in the winding narrow streets, or shaded plazas to sit down on a bench and enjoy a cold drink.

There is another great vantage point on the opposite side of the river, on a bluff looking over the town, with miradors, a restaurant, and a bullring.You will see it before you enter the town.






When we visited, the church of San Antonio was closed. But the church at the main Plaza d'Espana, pictured here, was open. The plaza is easy to find, as it is the only large open space in the upper section of the city. The town hall is on one side, and this church is on the other side. The church is small, but with some lovely altars, chapels, and paintings. The plaza has a public fountain with potable water, and was a refreshing place to take a break.



Ubrique is a gorgeous white village to explore, even if you are just window shopping. The leather products range from 20 Euro wallets to leather coats that are several hundred Euros. They are certainly gorgeous and unique gifts. I would recommend the trip to anyone! We certainly enjoyed it!