One thing about southern Spain is that it certainly isn’t short on white villages. Iznajar is one of the prettiest pueblos blancos that I’ve visited in Andalusia. Its winding narrow streets leading up to some fascinating historical points of interest. All of the village’s main attractions are within walking distance of one another too. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of things to do in Iznajar.
There’s over 1000 years of history within this village. Due to its location right along the borders of the provinces of Cardoba, Granada, and Malaga, it’s seen its fair share of battles too.
Many of the white villages in southern Spain are poorly signposted for tourists. Iznajar has adapted well to its increasing popularity by placing information signs in front of all of the main attractions. On top of that, the village offers free WiFi and has a tourist office in the centre.
It’s one of the best tourist friendly villages in Andalusia, and I’m glad that we had time to visit Iznajar during our stay near Archdiona. Here are my tips for the best things to do in Iznajar to make your trip all the more memorable.
Things to do in Iznajar
1. Take in the views from Mirador del Postigo
One of the great things about Iznajar is that it’s situated on a hill. This means that you have access to some incredible views from every side of the village. The first mirador (viewpoint) we came across was Mirador del Postigo. Visiting this spot comes high on the list of things to do in Iznajar because it’s facing the reservoir, Embalse de Iznajar. In the distance you can see the rolling hills dotted with olive groves too.
The reservoir is the largest in Andalusia, and if you visit Iznajar in the summer, you can enjoy an inland beach called Playa de Valdearenas. There are also quite a few free parking spaces at Mirador del Postigo for you to take advantage of.
2. Stop at Casa de las Columnas
One of the more unusual things to see in Iznajar is Casa de las Columnas (House of Columns). It’s a historic house that dates back to the 18th century, and was where the local taxes were collected. Although you can’t go inside of it, if you park at Mirador del Postigo you’ll walk past it on your way to the other main points of interest in Iznajar.
3. Walk around Parroquia de Santiago Apostol
Iznajar is one of the best Andalusian villages to visit if you don’t want to walk around a lot. Most of the main attractions are in the same area, or within a 5 minute walk from one another. Visiting Parroquia de Santiago Apostol is another fantastic thing to do in Iznajar, and it’s situated in the heart of the village.
It sits at the highest part of Iznajar, and was built between the 16th and 17th century. It was unfortunately closed when we visited, but it was lovely to walk around the outside of it. Don’t forget to look up at the bell tower before passing under the arch towards the rest of the medieval village.
4. Take a break in Plaza Rafael Alberti
Tucked away at the back of the church is Plaza Rafael Alberti. It’s a quiet and beautiful little square filled with plants and trees that offer visitors lot of shade. The temperatures in the summer can get excruciatingly hot, so this is the perfect spot to relax for a bit.
The plaza itself is named after the famous Spanish poet. He wrote a poem about the village in 1920, and it was he who actually opened the plaza in 1989. You can read the poem on the tiled mosaic in the middle of the plaza.
5. Pop in to the Biblioteca Publica Municipal de Iznajar
One site that wasn’t originally on my list of things to do in Iznajar was the public library. We stumbled upon it while heading to the castle and found out that it actually dates back to the 18th century, during the reign of Carlos III. The building was once where they would store grains and other food supplies for the village. If the Biblioteca Publica Municipal de Iznajar happens to be open when you visit the village, make sure you pop your head inside to take a look at the original arches. A lot of white villages in Spain have repurposed historic buildings like this one, while trying to maintain their overall charm.
6. Marvel at Patio de las Comedias
The highlight of any trip to Iznajar is Patio de las Comedias. Visiting this patio is one of the best things to do in Iznajar, and is definitely one of the more secret places to visit in Spain. In the medieval period, this would have been home to the village’s marketplace, or souk. From 1531 onwards it was given its current name due to the plays that were performed here.
Many villages in the province of Cordoba compete on a yearly basis to have the best patios, so if you happen to be doing a road trip in southern Spain, keep your eyes peeled for them. Patio de las Comedias has won numerous awards for its blue painted flowerpots. If you look closely you’ll find a lot of other objects painted blue as well.
7. Step back in time at Torre de San Rafael
On the far side of Patio de las Comedias, at the bottom of the steps, sits Torre de San Rafael. This medieval tower once formed part of the walls of the city, and has a statue of Saint Raphael on the top. Inside the tower is a cave house which is used as the headquarters of Hermandad de los Apostoles (Apostles Brotherhood) during Holy Week. There is also a beautiful viewpoint from this spot of the city and the surrounding landscape.
8. Visit Castillo de Iznajar
Iznajar has a dramatic medieval castle perched at the top of the village. Castillo de Iznajar is of Arabic origin and was built during the 8th century. The castle was once known as Castillo Hisn-Ashar, which is where the name of the village originates from. It costs only around €2 to enter. If you’re unlucky like we were though, you may find the castle closed.
You can still get a fantastic view of the castle with the church in the background from Mirador Cruz de San Pedro. Visiting the castle is one of the main things to do in Iznajar, so make sure you add it to your itinerary and explore its history.
9. Gaze out from Mirador Embalse
We started the day with a viewpoint, so it was only natural that our last stop was also a viewpoint. Mirador Embalse is one of the many spots around Iznajar where you can get breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The great thing about all of the viewpoints is that they’re more or less connected by one path. This means that you can walk the whole perimeter of the village and take in the views from every side. We were able to walk directly to the car from Mirador Embalse in less than 10 minutes which was ideal.
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the busier cities and coastal towns of southern Spain, Iznajar is one of the best places to visit from Malaga. It’s also a great day trip from nearby Antequera. It’s one of the more unique places in Andalusia to visit, and with its proximity to Granada, Cordoba, and the province of Malaga, it’s easily accessible. The next time you find yourself planning an itinerary for southern Spain, don’t forget to add the charming inland white village of Iznajar to your list.
Drop me a comment below if you’ve ever been to this village, know of more things to do in Iznajar, or have any other recommendations for white villages in southern Spain to visit. And don’t forget to follow me on my travels through Instagram too!
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