Júzcar
Understand
Júzcar, a small hillside village of 250 people surrounded by farmland, was one of the white villages of Andalusia until it was painted in blue in 2011 as a setting for the movie Smurfs II.
Several months and 80,000 visitors later, locals decided by referendum to leave the town Smurf blue. Local people work as police, waiters and staff. In Spanish, Smurfs are known as Pitufos, so the village brands itself as "el pueblo Pitufo". Tourist information is available at the mushroom museum.
Get in
From Ronda, take A-397 8km (5mi) south to MA-525, which runs 5.5km southwest to Cartajima. MA-518 leads 5km (3mi) from Cartajima to Júzcar.
Get around
Júzcar is tiny and most Smurfs travel locally on foot.
See
- Smurf figures painted on the main street buildings.
- Smurf statues adorn the parks.
- Centro Turístico Micologico (Mushroom museum), 1 Calle Virgen de Moclon, ☎ +34 952 183567. Cultural centre with tourist office and museum dedicated to the wild fungi found in the area. A mushroom fest is celebrated every November.
Do
An assortment of Smurf-related activities are offered on weekends. Make yourself into a Smurf (pintándote face) at the Hotel Bandolero (11am-1pm, weekends) then personalise your Smurf hat and blue manicure at El Casarón (11am-7pm). Tour the village sampling local produce from noon to 2pm, then catch the "Pitufo" show at the Hotel Bandolero (4-5pm).
Buy
Smurf keychains and T-shirts are available in local souvenir shops
- Mundo Pitufo, C/ Cruz, 1, ☎ +34 606 337-342. Noon-5PM weekends. Smurf-related souvenirs
Eat
Cafés serve blue Smurf spaghetti
- El Casarón, 1 Avenida Havaral, ☎ +34 678 664-191. Store and tavern (Tienda y Taberna), café with Smurf pasta ("pitupastas").
Drink
- El Rincón de Alicia (Alicia's Corner), C/ Arrieros (behind the public school). Teteria-Pub.
Sleep
- 🌍 Hotel Bandolero, 41-43, avenida Havaral, Júzcar, ☎ +34 952 183660. Eight-room rural hotel and restaurant, wi-fi, breakfast dining room, lounge, bar, outdoor pool and terrace