Setenil de las Bodegas: Troglodyte Buildings in a Quaint Spanish Town

Setenil de las Bodegas is a town located in Cádiz, a province in the southern part of Spain. The current town dates back to the 15th century AD, when the Moors who occupied it were expelled during the Christian Reconquista. This picturesque little town is renowned for its troglodyte structures, which are buildings dug directly into the rock face. As the façades of these buildings are like normal ones, it looks as though they are supporting the rock above them. This is an illusion, of course, but it is also the peculiar feature that draws tourists to the town.

What’s in a Name?

The name of the town, Setenil de las Bodegas, is peculiar in itself. According to some sources, the name ‘Setenil’ is a combination of two Latin words, ‘septem’ and ‘nihil’, which means ‘seven’ and ‘nothing’ respectively. This is supposedly a reference to the number of times the Christian rulers of Spain attempted to wrest control of the town form the Moors.

They made six failed attempts, and finally succeeded on the seventh try. As for ‘Bodegas’, this is said to be a reference to the many underground storage facilities in the town that were used primarily to store wine.

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Troglodyte structures in Setenil de las Bodegas. (kite_rin /Adobe Stock)

The area of Setenil de las Bodegas has allegedly been occupied as early as prehistoric times. This is based on evidence for habitation by prehistoric troglodytes in nearby caves, such as the Cueva de la Pileta, which is known for its cave paintings.

However, the continuous occupation of the area means most of this evidence would have been erased over time. It is more certain that the area was populated by the time the Romans arrived in the area during the 1st century AD. Unfortunately, the settlement was not developed at that time, so it remained insignificant.

The Fight for Setenil de las Bodegas

It was only during the 12th century that Setenil de las Bodegas began to see some progress. By then, the Romans had long gone, and the new masters of the town were the Almohads, a Berber Muslim dynasty that was based in Morocco. The Almohads established a fortified town by using the surrounding rock cliffs as a natural defense system. It seems that these defenses served the Muslims very well indeed.

During the Christian Reconquista, Setenil de las Bodegas, which had become part of the Emirate of Granada under the Nasrid dynasty, was attacked by the Christian armies seven times. It withstood the first six endeavors to capture it, and finally fell at the seventh attempt, in 1484. It is worth mentioning that Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in the Iberian Peninsula, fell eight years later, in 1492, which means that the capture of Setenil de las Bodegas occurred relatively late in the timeline of the Reconquista.

From Wine to Troglodyte Tourism

The new Christian rulers of Setenil de las Bodegas developed the town as an agricultural center. The town became known for its production of olives, almonds, and wine. Even today, the first two are still being produced by the town’s people. Setenil de las Bodegas’ wine production, however, came to an end during the 1860s, as a result of the phylloxera insect infestation, which destroyed most European vine stocks.

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Setenil de las Bodegas developed into an agricultural center. (pkazmierczak /Adobe Stock)

Setenil de las Bodegas is also a tourist attraction today thanks to its unique architecture. Many troglodyte structures may be found in the town. These buildings, which are carved directly into the rock cliffs, are able to naturally keep the heat out during the hot summer months, and maintain warmth inside during the cold winter months.

It was only necessary for the inhabitants to build façades for their cave dwellings. While many of these structures are still used as homes by the people of the town, some have been converted into bars or restaurants that cater to visiting tourists who want the experience of living like a modern troglodyte – at least while they are on vacation.

A troglodyte structure in Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain. (diegograndi /Adobe Stock)

Top image: Troglodyte structures in Setenil de las Bodegas in Cadiz Province, Spain. Source: Lyd Photography /Adobe Stock

By Wu Mingren

Updated on July 28, 2020.