Grazalema is one of the prettiest villages in Andalucia. Spain, in fact. Perched in the mountains,
it’s postcard-perfect: all white buildings, wrought iron, cobbled streets, terracotta flowerpots.
Refreshingly, it’s thin on tourists.
If you do happen upon one of the small number of out-of-towners, chances are you’ll find them here,
‘La Tienda Chica’.
At first glance, this is just another white building in a white village.
Nothing in particular about it makes you stop, take notice.
But you should.
Inside La Tienda Chica is a leather workshop belonging to
Fernando Garcia.
Fernando’s been designing and making leather products for more than 15 years. The craftsmanship is incredible. Bags hang from the wall, each one unique: designed, cut, crafted, right there in front of you. There are belts, laptop cases, wallets, phone covers. There’s no doubt this a man who loves his work.
For such a small space there’s lots to look at: it’s crammed with offcuts,
half-finished products, threads and interesting tools – some of which look like they’ve been around as long as the building. The light isn’t great, the windows small with iron grates, so sometimes you’ll find Fernando perched on the doorstep, sewing in the finishing touches beneath the sun. Not a bad way to earn
a living eh?
Grazalema is just one of the sugar-cube towns and villages you can walk through on our “Andalucia’s White Towns” itinerary. Find out more here.
