Jimena de la Frontera, inland from Sotogrande

The charming historic village of Jimena de la Frontera is located only thirty minutes inland from the exclusive golfing greens, polo courses and marinas of San Roque and Sotogrande, but feels like stepping into another world entirely.

Enter this traditional Andalusian whitewashed town through the impressive three-arched gateway and you find yourself in a picturesque country town with narrow meandering cobbled streets, quaint churches and chapels, ancient gateways and, at its highest point, Jimena’s imposing castle.

The colourful village has an equally colourful, chequered history, having been inhabited at various times by the Iberians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians, as well as by the Romans and Moors, and the cultural influences are evident in its varied and architecture and diverse artistic inspirations.

Today, Jimena’s population of 10,000 is made up of a significant number of foreign expats who, having discovered this hidden gem, have settled and created a vibrant and thriving community here.

Wander through the cobbled streets, where no two houses are the same, featuring wrought iron balconies, multicoloured flowerbeds upon each windowsill, towers, turrets and pretty courtyards, and you will stumble across a myriad of cafés, restaurants and bistros where you can sample some of the local gastronomic delights.

Jimena is renowned for its fabulous ‘natural cuisine’, with dishes created using only the natural ingredients found in the surrounding forest, or from locally grown produce. From wild asparagus and Chanterelle mushroom recipes to Jimena’s traditional sweet dish of Arabic origin, with ingredients including olive oil, honey, almonds, cinnamon and orange peel. The town’s attractive outlook, beautiful countryside and pretty architecture are topped off by its gastronomic delights.

Jimena is surrounded by the Los Alcornocales Natural Park, and the wild and rambling countryside is as beautiful as it is varied. There are several ‘cotos de caza’ or game preserves, as well as rich forestland and hilly mountainous regions. In the fertile valleys, home to the villages of San Pablo de Buceite and San Martín del Tesorillo, orange, olive and avocado groves grow in abundance, all irrigated by the River Guadiaro.

The town’s enviable position affords breathtaking views over the fields, hills and valleys, and out across the bay to Gibraltar and Algeciras. This is a nature-lover’s paradise and a charming retreat of calm and tranquillity where you can enjoy a laidback Andalusian lifestyle with country walks, fine food and morning coffee in the Spanish sun.

Boasting a great range of festivals throughout the calendar year, from flamenco art, mushroom picking and the deer rutting season to food, Jimena has a varied cultural scene and, with a great choice of charming country hotels and restaurants, this is a great destination for a weekend trip or even a leisurely lunch.