Activities
There are some guide books in the house, but Estepa has a number of lovely churches to look around, plus the convent, restored church and tower at the top of the hill. There is a market three times a week, but it also has a good Mercadona supermarket and a number of small independent shops (including one just across the road from the house). Spanish towns don’t have a town centre like British towns tend to, so sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle finding the shop you want because they’re spread over several streets.
Estepa has any number of bars and restaurants, most of which serve tapas and restaurant food. There are a couple of hostals with good restaurants and several excellent restaurants within about a five mile radius. Food is generally good, but quite meat or fish based. Vegetarians are not particularly well catered for, but it is possible to eat out and not eat meat. Coffee tends to be strong, but decaff is widely available. Tea is, well, not the Spanish’s forte. It comes very weak with no milk and often no lemon. Beer is of the lager variety, wine is generally red (and don’t be surprised if it arrives chilled), but plenty of fino sherry is available.
There is a municipal swimming pool which is open from the end of June to the beginning of September – it’s just the other side of the hill from the house. It’s a lovely setting with lots of shade and a bar that serves drinks and snacks.
Horses are an important part of Andalucian culture, and there are a couple of horse-riding stables just outside the town