The mineral richness attracted the first settlers to an area whose history is marked by its boundary limits. These features can be seen in the lines of both bastions and castles such as the ones from Cortegana, Aroche, Cumbres Mayores, Almonaster la Real (whose hermitage can be seen in the left picture) and that of Santa Olalla de Cala, among others, which historically served as a defence from the continuous conflicts with Portugal following the Reconquista (Spanish Reconquest).

The influence from Galicia and León can also be seen in villages North from Aracena and Picos de Aroche, since the people who settled here came from those regions, thus consolidating the Castilian kingdom. This colonization originated a kind of peculiar settlement who has reached our days: the hamlets. Concentrated where both water and soil allow the agricultural use -the Southern central massif-, about thirty hamlets are still to be seen today (like the one in the picture) and are a rural heritage jewel for which this region is rich. This region is also rich for the wise and traditional use of the holm oak trees and cork oak trees for breeding sheep, cows and the famous Iberian pork and also the chestnut tree so well known in the Park.

Offering a wide range of possibilities from the very popular ceramic from Aracena to the wood carvings and carpentry works of Galaroza, the tapestry of Alájar and the equine products and scales from Cortegana.

The well known Iberian pork hams from Jabugo, Cortegana and Cumbres Mayores, together with the pork cold meats produced by local families from the Natural Park villages. Typical dishes such as fried breadcrumbs, kid tripes, sausage in liquor (from Cortegana), smashed garlic with salt and oil, potato stew (from Jabugo) and the pie from Higuera de la Sierra, where a delicious cherry liqueur is also produced. Among sweets it is worth mentioning the chestnuts pie from Fuenteheridos, egg yolks with cinnamon from Corteconcepción and the chestnut cream.