In the south of Cordoba, these wetlands are home to a huge variety of birds and plant species, given the excellent, diverse conditions of the soils. The nature reserve is home to the Zóñar, Rincón and Amarga lagoons, along with other seasonal ones such as Tíscar, Jarales and Salobral. All of them are protected for their importance as the wintering and nesting grounds of marine birdlife.

These oases are surrounded by reeds, bulrush, rushes and giant reed, contrasting against a landscape of olive groves, vineyards and grain set in fertile Cordoba countryside.

The Zóñar lagoon is an astonishing thirteen metres deep. The La Carrizosa trail walks us through Mediterranean scrubland, sighting Mediterranean buckthorn, mastic trees, osyris, as well as flowering vines such as honeysuckle and Mediterranean smilax. The aquatic vegetation feeds numerous species, including the “pejerrey” fish, unusually found here in the continental waters of the Peninsula. On the Del Observatorio trail there is a magnificent panoramic view of Zóñar. With a little help from a pair of binoculars and a guide, you can see swamphens, common shelducks, common pochards and the famous white-headed duck.

The white-headed duck, identified by its stiff tail and blue beak, is particularly treasured here as it was on the brink of extinction a few years ago but has made a remarkable comeback in the Zóñar, Rincón and Amarga lagoons. Laguna Amarga (Bitter Lagoon), named after the salts that characterise it, is home to the pochard and the coot, amongst a great deal of tamarisk. Laguna Rincón is home to the little grebe, great crested grebe, mallard and red-crested duck, all of which you are likely to see on your visit.

A few kilometres away, in the smallest, circular lagoon, Laguna de los Jarales, the white-headed duck reappears alongside the western swamphen. A number of ducks, shorebirds and flamingos spend the winter in Tíscar, on the opposite side. Laguna del Conde and Salobral offer yet more paradise for amateur bird watchers. The “vía verde” greenway (converted disused railway tracks) de la Subbética crosses the pueblos blancos (white villages) of the mountains. From its observatory-viewpoint you can see coots, cranes and flamingos amongst the salicornia and sea heath.

On top of the nature on offer, the towns have a rich history of prehistoric origins. Its most notable periods are Roman and Moorish, though the medieval Puente Genil is equally interesting. After sampling quince jelly, a traditional dessert, you can visit the Araceli (patron saint of Lucena) chapel in the Sierra de Aras. The highest part of this mountain range is La Cueva del Ángel (Angel Cave), an important paleontological site. It is common to see paragliders here.