The small town of Alora is situated 40 kms north of Málaga on the road to Antequera and just 12 kms south of El Chorro. From a distance, it is a typical ‘pueblo blanco’; a whitewashed village topped by the ruins of a magnificent castle which has an interesting history. Built by the Phoenicians and subsequently expanded under Roman rule, in the 5th century the castle was virtually destroyed by the Visigoths, only to be rebuilt under the Moors.
Remnants of this era still remain; the decorative steel door and the traditional Arabian watchtower. In between 1587 and 1593 Álora was home to the legendary Cervantes and in 1628 it gained its independence from Málaga.
Álora is said to be the birthplace of Malagueño flamenco. A visit to the village, which consists of a series of very steep slopes and attractive cobbled streets, is very worthwhile. The whitewashed streets are lined with lemon trees and converge on a square on the lowest level, overlooked by the impressive seventeenth century church of La Encarnación, which was built during the Catholic era of rule on the site of a former mosque. From the square, climb to the castle on foot, or go by car to the cemetery from where you can enjoy the splendid panorama of the Guadalhorce river basin. Among the tombs there is a small Gothic chapel. Monday is market day when the village becomes a lively mass of stallholders and shoppers. The area is becoming increasingly popular due to the new roads, beautiful surroundings and of course, lower property prices than the towns nearer to the coastal areas.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Economy
Álora’s economy is based on agriculture, in particular the cultivation of tropical fruits, olives and grape vines.
Gastronomy
The cuisine of Álora uses the traditional Mediterranean ingredients of olives, almonds and citrus fruits. There are some delicious local dishes, including ‘Sopa Perota’, based on a garlic broth with croutons - and scrambled eggs with spring onions and vegetables.
Crafts
Castanets are just one of the items that are hand-made in Álora and are one of the most typical instruments used for the traditional dance of the verdiales. Basketmaking and ornate iron work are also traditional crafts.
 Fiestas
Álora’s main fiesta is the flamenco festival which is held annually in July. The fiesta in honour of Saint Paulino, patron Saint of the village is celebrated at the beginning of July. Another popular traditional event is the Romería de la Virgen de las Flores which takes place in the middle of September and Álora is one of the best places to enjoy the traditional ‘verdiales’. |
