Las Alpujarras | Granada | Costa Tropical | Sierra Nevada | Andalucia | ^ Top of Page ^

Las Alpujarras

Las Alpujarras is a 70km long collection of valleys along the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada.  It is a mixture of dramatic mountains, deep ravines, sloping hillsides, huge gorges, and the most breath-taking views.  It is full of many clusters of beautiful white villages, often seemingly clinging together on the side of a steep mountainside, which are a traditional feature of this area.

Las Alpujarras has often been described as 'oddball', 'kooky' or 'strange' due to its uniqueness, and olde-world quality.  It has a sense of timelessness and its own pace of life.  It is extremely picturesque and beautiful and once you have visited for the first time, this area stays in your heart and you will come back time and time again.

The Alpujarran people are very welcoming; everywhere you go you are greeted with a friendly 'Hola' and are soon made to feel part of the community.  There is a strong emphasis placed on family life; you will often see several generations of the same family sat down enjoying a meal together. 

It is a particularly delightful area to explore on foot and there are many well-signposted walking routes, ranging from a short stroll, to day long hikes into the Sierra Nevada.  For the really serious walker there are two famous long-distance foot paths that cross Las Alpujarras.  One is the GR-7  which begins in Tarifa in Cadiz province and crosses Europe all the way to Greece.  The other is the GR-142 which runs from Lanjaron to Fiñana on the northern side of the Sierra Nevada in Almeria province.

There is also a huge variety of plants, flowers, animals and birds to see in this region.  Ibex, Deer, Red Squirrel, Badger, Fox, Otter and Wild Boar are all inhabitants of the area.  Bird-watchers have the chance to see an enormous amount of birds of prey, such as Eagles, Vultures, Kestrels, Buzzards, Kites, Hawks and Harriers.  Reptiles are also a common sight in this area, including Snakes, Lizards and Geckos.   

Las Alpujarras, and in particular Granada, is famous for its delicious tapas.  These are small snacks served (often free) with an alcoholic drink and cover a wide range of imaginative dishes.  The town of Trevelez is famous for its Jamón Serrano (cured ham).  The well known 'Alpujarras' or 'Costa' wine can also be sampled. 

The region has also become more famous due to the success of several books written by residents.  This began with Gerald Brenan who settled here in the village of Yegen in the 1920's and wrote 'South from Granada'.  Chris Stewart's books ('Driving over Lemons' and 'A Parrot in the Pepper Tree') describe his life in a small farming community near Orgiva.

This thriving, friendly town is the capital of Las Alpujarras, and is one of the larger and more populated towns in the region.  It has a population of about 5000.  The town is the first that people reach coming from the N340 along the coast, and is a good starting point for an exploration of Las Alpujarras

There is a weekly market (on Thursdays), and the town also has a Tourist Information Office. 

There are several cafes, bars, hotels, and hostels, and camping sites. 

Orgiva has an attractive twin-spire church which dates from the 16^th Century, called the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Expectacion.  There is also an old white-washed church at the top of the town, called Ermita de San Sebastian. 

There are two delightful village squares.  The Plaza de Alpujarras has walkways displaying tile pictures of several villages in Las Alpujarras. 

Orgiva is set in a valley surrounded by forests with the Rio Chico running through it, so is a good starting point for walks, and has lovely views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Lujar, and Sierra Contravesia. 

The Festival of Orgiva is 30^th Sept – 3^rd Oct.

** Click here to visit lasalpujarras.co.uk, the online guide to Las Alpujarras **

Las Alpujarras | Granada | Costa Tropical | Sierra Nevada | Andalucia | ^ Top of Page ^

Granada

One of Granada city's most famous landmarks is the stunning Alhambra Palace. Its beauty and history is fascinating and, as satisfying as a visit around the Alhambra is, the views of the Palace from many areas of Granada are also amazing, especially at sunset. Granada city has so much history that it is a remarkable place to visit. The old Islamic quarter, the Albayzin, seems like a step back in time with its narrow streets and tall buildings, and the Cathedral and Capilla Real are also beautiful historic monuments. Granada city also has plenty of modern-day attractions too, with a good nightlife, plenty of bars and cafes, a variety of restaurants, and excellent shops. All this is surrounded by the majestic Sierra Nevada backdrop of snow-clad mountains and lofty peaks.

Golf is growing fast in the region and there are a number of very high quality courses within 30 minutes drive on the road to Granada.

Bookings – Alhambra Palace

Bookings are best made in advance as there are limits on the numbers permitted, therefore it is not possible to guarantee that you will be able to get tickets during your stay. It is necessary to book using Credit Card facility therefore if you wish us to book for you please enter your card details on the booking form for your authorisation. The tickets and receipts will be available when you arrive in Spain .

Las Alpujarras | Granada | Costa Tropical | Sierra Nevada | Andalucia | ^ Top of Page ^

Costa Tropical

The Costa Tropical is so-called because of the production of hot-climate crops such as custard apples, avocados and mangoes that are grown along its shores. The coastline is hilly and cliff-lined, with many beautiful views, and the towns along the coast are attractive. They are often old defensive towns, and have some good examples of watchtowers and castles. Salobrena is a lovely town, with the old part set on a hillside underneath a castle. Almunecar is a larger town, with a castle and plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and nightlife. La Herradura is a pretty town with a sheltered beach, and is known for its water sports. This is an excellent coastline with beautiful weather and waters, but has the attraction of being quieter and less-developed than other Costas.

Las Alpujarras | Granada | Costa Tropical | Sierra Nevada | Andalucia | ^ Top of Page ^

Sierra Nevada

This region includes the two highest mountains in mainland Spain; Mulhacen and Veleta. It is a beautiful and dramatic mountain range and National Park area, with some parts still covered in snow well into the summer months. There is a world-famous ski station here, and the ski season lasts from December to April/early May. The Sierra Nevada region is also beautiful walking country. The foothills of the Sierra Nevada contain many small villages, set in picturesque surroundings and all with fascinating histories. Some of these include Huetor Vega which is recognised for its archaeological finds, Cenes de la Vega and Pinos Genil which are well-known areas for the growing of almond trees, Guejar Sierra which offers a wide range of outdoor activities, and El Charcon which is the starting points for many walks.

You can find more information including a snow report here

Las Alpujarras | Granada | Costa Tropical | Sierra Nevada | Andalucia | ^ Top of Page ^

Andalucia

El Galeon is an excellent base for exploring Andalucia by car as most major attractions can be reach within a couple of hours driving.

Seville

Seville is possibly one of the most beautiful and enchanting cities in the world. It has to be visited to be fully appreciated; with its romantic atmosphere, cobbled narrow streets, little old-fashioned streetside cafes, beautiful historic structures, and friendly people. The Plaza de Espana (pictured) is a wonderful site to behold with its curved arched structure, tiled walls and ceilings, its water features with fountain and beautiful arched bridges, and the fascinating tiled depictions of all the provinces in Spain. The Barrio de Santa Cruz is a former Jewish ghetto and is an ancient place full of narrow streets, white-washed houses often seemingly huddled and squashed together, but almost all with beautiful flower-laden balconies. The Alcazar is a fascinating place to visit and dates from the 14th century, with beautiful tilework, ornamental patios, honeycombed plasterwork and dramatic gardens, and maze. Seville's 15th century cathedral is the world's largest Gothic structure and the world's third largest church. There are also several lovely parks in Seville, notably the Parque de Maria Luisa, as well as riverside walks and museums.

Malaga & Costa del Sol

Malaga is an extremely beautiful and dramatic city, which is often overlooked when visitors land at the airport and drive away. It has a fantastic castle with many interesting levels and rooms to explore, as well as lovely views of the harbour and city. The cathedral is another beautiful and grand structure, and well worth a visit. The city possesses a great deal of interesting historic monuments, in particular its Roman amphitheatre, a 9th century Moorish fortress, and an 11th century Moorish palace. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga. There are also a huge variety of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to spend time in. The Costa del Sol is the most popular of the Costas. It has lovely long beaches with beautiful sand and waters, and you can almost guarantee the sunshine. Nerja is a particularly lovely town, with the famous Balcony of Europe and it has a quiet and cosy feel with little private coves rather than long beaches. Mijas is a beautiful white-washed village with beautiful views and fascinating narrow old-fashioned streets. The Costa del Sol is also overlooked by mountains which provide dramatic scenery and views as well as enjoyable walks and drives, and give another aspect to this region.

Almeria & Tabernas desert

Almeria is the easternmost coastal resort in Andalucia, and is a very popular area due to its excellent climate. It has over 3000 hours of annual sunshine. There are several attractive resorts as well as dramatic mountain ranges, in particular the Cabo de Gato penisula. Almeria itself has a huge castle and many defensive walls and towers. The cathedral is also worth a visit, as is the old town with its narrow crooked streets. The Tabernas desert is a remarkable place - like nothing on earth. It is Europe's only desert and is an amazing place to visit. Several spagetti westerns were filmed there in the 1960s and 1970s including 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'A Fistful of Dollars' and the old movie sets can be visited. It is interesting to drive through the desert and see how the landscape changes - it can be very flat in places and yet is very hilly in others. It is also fascinating to look around and realise you can't see a town or house in any direction! Sorbas is a lovely village to visit - a bit like stepping back in time. It almost hangs off the top of a gorge, and has beautiful pottery and ceramics for sale as well as historic kilns and caves on display.

Ronda

Ronda has been described as a place that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime, and it is an amazing place. It is divided into two parts and is separated by a huge dramatic gorge which is spanned by the stunning arched 'Puente Nuevo' bridge (pictured). The views down into the gorge and across to the valley are simply beautiful, and the bridge itself is very fascinating. Ronda is also famous for having the oldest bullring in Spain. The town itself is lovely to explore, especially the old part with its narrow twisting streets. Ronda is steeped in history with old Moorish baths, a beautiful church, several lovely parks, and an old 17th century bridge.

Antequera

Antequera town begins high up on a hill with its fascinating castle which gives superb views of the town and surrounding countryside. As the hill descends it is covered in whitewashed houses that form the town. The Palacio de Najera is in the town square and dates from the 1700s. It has an interesting museum full of paintings and sculptures. The area surrounding Antequera is also worth visiting; the dolmen (huge burial chambers) of Menga are enormous and date from 2500BC, and there are 2 more such dolmen nearby. The Paraje Natural Torcal de Antequera is also a fascinating place to see; it is full of amazing natural rock formations (pictured) that have been sculpted by millions of years of wind and rain and feature deep ravines and high cliffs. All this area once used to be a seabed over 150million years ago. Antequera also has a huge lake nearby that is one of Europe's main breeding grounds for flamigoes, and is the biggest natural lake in Andalucia.

Cordoba

This is another beautiful and romantic city similar in feel to Seville. It is full of white-washed houses adorned with colourful flowers in courtyards and balconies. One of the most famous parts of Cordoba is the stunning Mezquita (pictured) with its fascinating red and white arches. The Alcazar is also a lovely place to visit with its terraced gardens and fountains. The old Jewish quarter is an interesting place to walk around; full of history within its tight narrow streets. There are many good restaurants in the city, and interesting shops, particularly selling the intricate filigree work that Cordoba is famed for.

Guadix

This area is famous for its cave-dwellings, and about 3000 people live in these fascinating underground homes. The town of Guadix has many examples of cave-dwellings and you can wander around the streets, with often only a white chimney poking up to reveal the location of a home underneath the rock. The town also has a dramatic 10th-11th century castle, the Alcazaba, and a lovely cathedral. The towns of Pinar and Iznalloz also have fascinating cave-dwellings, and both are also recognised for their contribution to historical finds with discoveries such as human remains and cave paintings. The village of La Calahorra is also an interesting place to visit, with its huge castle which was built in the early 1500s. There are also many other lovely small villages, surrounded by beautiful rivers and rows of chestnuts trees.