Genalguacil is a classic Andalusian white town with a difference. In its small squares and cobbled streets of Arab origin, there are works of contemporary art from known artists from around the world.

Location

Genalguacil is located in the heart of the Genal Valley, one of the most unspoiled places in Andalucia, Southern Spain. It is approximately 45 km from Ronda, at an altitude of 590 m and surrounded by chestnut forests. It is of typical Moorish or Andalucian Architecture and is the best-preserved in the area. It is one of the prettiest villages in Spain – “pueblos más bonitos de España”.

Click on any photo to see a larger version.

A black-and-white photo of Genalgaucil taken from an elevated position. The town is on the side of a hill and is surrounded by pine and chestnut forests. Genalguacil is located in the heart of the Genal Valley, one of the most unspoiled places in Andalucia, Southern Spain.
Genalguacil is located in the heart of the Genal Valley, one of the most unspoiled places in Andalucia, Southern Spain
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 8, GPS location

Genalguacil pueblo museo

The main attraction of this town is that it is that every two years in August, some of the most famous artists come here to make art in the streets. This is then permanently exhibited in the streets, squares, walls and roofs of the town. Genalguacil has become a “pueblo museo”, an open-air museum or art gallery. This makes walking through the cobbled streets of the town so interesting. You find paintings on walls, sculptures, carved trunks and much more. Artwork which is not resistant to the weather is displayed in the local ‘Fernando Centeno López’ Contemporary Art Museum. This art gallery also features other exhibitions throughout the year. Genalguacil also has a Crafts Centre which supports traditional local handicrafts.

Street art in Genalgaucil - A black-and-white photo of a number of people silhouettes arranged in two groups linked by an arch. The space between the two groups of people is also the shape of a human - a kind of reverse silhouette.
One of the street art exhibits in Genalgaucil
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 8, GPS location

St. Peter the Martyr of Verona church

The parish church of St. Peter, the Martyr of Verona, is the most notable of Genalguacil’s buildings, with its characteristic octagonal tower from the 18th century of academic baroque and classicist style with touches of Mudejar style. Although its first construction dates from the 16th century, it was destroyed during the Moorish rebellion of 1570 and rebuilt as early as the 18th century. The main structure comprises three naves separated by semicircular arches.

The parish church of St. Peter, the Martyr of Verona, Genalgaucil.
Iglesia de San Pedro de Verona, Genalguacil
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:3.5/28mm, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location

Photo walk

Now, let’s wander around the rest of this pretty white village.

A black-and-white photo of a sculpture of a very tall man sitting on a stool watching TV. The TV is just a frame, with a scenic landscape visible through it.
Watching TV. Genalgaucil is famous for its street art and is regarded as a “pueblo museo”, an open-air museum/art gallery.
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a fuente with three donkey heads acting as water spouts, pouring water into a trough.
Fuente de los Burros o de las Acémilas (J. E. Sierra, 2009)
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/500 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a narrow, pretty paved/cobbled back street. Several large potted plants stand in front of the white houses. A flag flutters at roof level.
A pretty backstreet
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of two metal bird sculptures. One is perched on a masonry fence post, and the other is on a pole, giving the impression of being in flight.
More street art - metal bird sculptures
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:3.5/28mm, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 16, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a very neat and tidy paved/cobbled street in Genalgaucin with smart white terraced houses.
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a narrow cobbled street with white houses on either side. A piece of artwork comprising chairs, brass horns and a bicycle are bolted together, forming an arch over the street.
More street art. I particularly like this one. Unfortunately, I don't have any details about it.
Camera: Pentax Spotmatic, Lens: Pentax Takumar 1:2/35mm, Exposure Time: 1/500 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a pretty back street in Genalgaucil with white townhouses.
A back street
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/19, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a mosaic cat on a
Cat mosaic - I'm not sure exactly what this should be, but I liked the composition of the stepped alley with the church in the distance
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/20, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/60 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a street light leaning at a precarious angle. The cause? An orange is wedged under the streetlight base.
Bowled over by an orange. Look closely - there is an orange (metal) wedged under the streetlight base.
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/26, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a Relief carving of Genalcaucil next to a walkway ramp.
A Relief Carving of Genalcaucil next to a walkway ramp
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/21, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a small, pretty terrace amongst several white houses. A mountain is visible in the distance.
What a location! What a view!
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/23, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a stone sculpture of a naked woman holding a baby.
El descansito by Aida Varvajal Garcia, 2012. Note that there is also a silhouette of a photographer painted on the wall behind.
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/24, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a wooden sculpture on a small terrace beside some steps. White houses behind and to the right with several trees. A very picturesque setting.
Unfortunately, I didn't record the artist's details
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/25, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 8, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a pretty cobbled street in Genalgaucil. The street runs uphill, with white houses on both sides. A tree is in the foreground on the left.
A pretty cobbled street
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/27, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of an intersection of narrow cobbled streets. On the corner is a telephone box - now being used as a mini library.
Telephone box on a street intersection - now being used as a mini library
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/16, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a pretty, meandering, narrow, cobbled street with white townhouses. Small orange trees are growing on the right. There is painted artwork on a wall in the foreground (on RHS). On a balcony on the LHS, there is a character model made from flowerpots (think Bill and Ben, the flowerpot men).
A pretty meandering street
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/17, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a pretty cobbled street with white townhouses.
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/18, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of two benches facing each other on a mirador (viewing point). An abstract piece of artwork is fixed to a wall - sort of giant alphanumerical characters.
Mirador de la Lomilla with another example of street art
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/19, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/125 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of a pretty alley in Genalgaucil with white townhouses. Two relief carvings are on the facing house walls—details in the photo caption.
There are two relief sculptures on the nearest walls. On the left Los Corchcheros and on the right La Siesta - both are by Carmen Escalona 2002.
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/21, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location
A black-and-white photo of an old house with a dilapidated outbuilding on the edge of the town.
A black-and-white photo of an old house on the edge of the town
Camera: Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/20, Lens: Zeiss Opton Tessar 3, Exposure Time: 1/250 sec, f 11, GPS location

That concludes our photo walk around the village. We wandered around the rabbit warren of narrow streets and left the village by the lowest point.

Film photo details

I used two vintage film cameras for my photo walk around Genalgaucil, a Pentax Spotmatic SP and a Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex IIa 855/19, both with Kentmere 100 film exposed @ 64 ISO. Developer: Spur Acurol-N 1+70 9 min @20C

The photos were digitised using a Nikon Z6 mirrorless digital camera with a Tokina AT-X Pro Macro 100mm f2.8 D lens and processed using Capture One software.

Film roll No’s 358, 359 and 361.

See more posts about White Villages in Spain.