And they have lived like that for centuries.
The small city of Setenil de las Bodegas in Spain is home to regarding 3,000 inhabitants, and all of the inhabitants have one thing in common: they all live right underneath a giant rock. People have taken advantage of the natural protrusion of the cliff to build houses.
Located in the northeastern part of the province of Cadiz, the city is built along a narrow gorge once eroded by the Rio Trejo River. Many visitors come here wonder why the people here are willing to live under the shadow of such a rock, and the real reason is extremely logical, related to their long tradition.
Many of the houses here are built directly into the cliff, so they don’t have to build a whole house like other places. They live in true caves, and they keep them out of the hot and cold weather as they sweep across the country.
It is this huge rock that forms a natural porch, preventing heat from penetrating too deeply into the air below, keeping the houses cool in summer and warm in winter.
The name of this city is also associated with two historical events. Accordingly, “Setenil” is taken from the Latin word, which means “seven failures”. In the 15th century, the area was occupied by Moors from Africa, and it took the Royal Family seven times to regain possession of the land from the Moors in 1485.
The name “de las Bodegas” was added in the last few centuries, either in memory of vineyards destroyed by insects, or as a way of referring to the caves that sustain production for the whole family. city.
Now, the city is a popular tourist destination. Visitors feel fascinated by the alleys running under the giant rock, the houses with unique shapes and the harmonious life between people and nature in the village of Setenil de las Bodegas.
Rachel Pham(Synthetic)