Huétor Santillán

Located above a thousand metres above sea level, Huétor Santillán is part of a mountain range which bears its name and forms the Parque Natural de la Sierra de Huétor. This protected area is surrounded by diverse landscapes, including Mediterranean mountains, canyons, forests of oak and maple trees.

The town is of Arab origin and offers a broad range of outdoor activities, including hiking and cycling. This area is hugely popular among locals and visitors that come here to relax surrounded by nature.

Huétor Santillán has some beautiful places nearby including the Fuente de la Mora and the famous Venta del Molinillo, as well as the sources of the Río Darro and the Río Fardes. Their waters come from the same mountain range, and meet the Río Genil and Río Guadiana Menor respectively.

The origin of the name of Huétor Santillán is Arabic and also derives from the surname of its former ruler. It used to be called ‘Qaryat al-Wata’, meaning ‘farm’ or ‘village hill’ (‘huerta’ in Spanish), and it was first mentioned in the 14^th century by Al-Khatib in his description of the Kingdom of Granada. The second part of the name comes from Diego de Santillán, Marquis of Guadalcázar, who apparently bought the town shortly after the Reconquista.

Since then Huétor Santillán belonged to the Marquis of Guadalcázar, in particular to the Casa Profesa de la Compañía de Jesús de la Villa y Corte de Madrid, a religious institution founded by his wife. When he died, the town passed into the hands of the Spanish state.

During the uprising of the Moors in the 16^th century, the local church was burned down and destroyed. More recently, due to its excellent road connections and its proximity to Granada, it is a popular place to have a second home.

Agriculture and livestock are the basic ingredients for local dishes from Huétor Santillán. Soups and stews are delicious as are the lamb chops and beef Granadillas, partridge and fried potatoes. Cereals, vegetables and mushrooms are also frequently used in local dishes.