Steeped
in history and usually bathed in sunshine, the
hilltop pueblo of Alora keeps watch as ever over
the glorious Valle del Sol (valley of the sun),
with the silver water of the Guadelhorce River
snaking through the lush orange groves on its
way to the sea. Having benefited from a huge investment
scheme, the town has seen major refurbishment
and development in recent years and, being so
close to the coast and Malaga airport, it is rapidly
growing in stature, without losing its 'small
town appeal'. Property prices have bucked the
general trend by continuing to rise, so making
property investment in the area an attractive
proposition.
Ideal
because of its easy accessiblity, delightful mixture
of traditional charm and modern conveniences,
to say nothing of the staggering panoramas at
almost every turn, the town attracts not only
a steady stream of admiring visitors, but also
an increasing number of pensioners in search of
warmer climes, business entrepreneurs seeking
affordable buy to let investments and those keen
to secure a reasonably priced holiday home, perhaps
one day for their own retirement.
Just
40 kilometres inland from Malaga on the excellent
A357 (and also easily accessible by train and
bus), Alora is the perfect destination for a day
out from the coast, or perhaps the central point
for a weekend of further exploration in the surrounding
countryside. The people of Alora are quite rightly
proud of their pueblo and their welcome and friendliness
are as warm as the sunshine. Watching out for
cars, motorbikes and sometimes horses, visitors
can wander through the intriguing narrow streets,
which constantly offer surprising views at almost
every turn, one of the most spectacular panoramas
being from the old Arab Castle (Castillo Arabe),
a short, although fairly steep walk from the centre
of the village. Two squares, the Plaza Arriba
(upper square) and Plaza Bajo (lower square) are
fringed with beautiful examples of Spanish architecture
and tiling and are peppered with delightful bars
and restaurants. Traditional Spanish tapas abound
and the restaurants are relaxed and reasonably
priced, reliably offering mouth-watering dishes,
soups being a local speciality, often home-cooked,
using delicious locally grown produce.
While
English is spoken in some of the bars, most retain
a very Spanish character, although even the slightest
attempt on the part of any visitor to say a few
words in Spanish is usually met with a welcoming
smile. There is also a cultural centre, La Casa
de la Cultura, with a library, museum, children's
theatre and art gallery, well worth a visit. Other
attractions include a market in the Plaza Baja
on Monday mornings, concentrating mostly on fresh
produce and bargain-priced clothing.
Alora
is famous for its atmospheric processions during
the Easter period (Semana
Santa) and there is also a week long party
including a fun fair, concerts and cultural events
during the town’s annual Feria
in August. In early September there is a colourful
parade of floats and horsemen at the town’s
Romeria and there are also many other exciting
events and attractions throughout the year.
For
weekend stays, or even longer, there are several
good hotels and bed and breakfasts, allowing visitors
to experience the village nightlife, which can
be lively at times. There is also a recently opened
theatre and cinema complex, most productions,
though, being in Spanish. Failing that, there
are always the bars, wonderful meeting places,
most of them staying open until the last customers
wend their merry way home.
- Some
interesting facts:
- Height
above sea level: 183 metres
- 14,000
registered inhabitants (and some!)
- Alora
dates back to Prehistoric Times before the arrival
of the Romans and then the Moors
- The
Arab Castle (Castillo Arabe), which was built
on the Cerro de las Torres hill, was declared
a National Monument in 1931
- The
Chapel of the Torres inside the castle dates
back to the 15th Century
- At
the entrance to the town opposite the Cervantes
Theatre there is a monument in a musical theme,
which pays tribute to flamenco, Alora being
known as the ‘Cradle of the Malaguena’,
the cradle of flamenco
- Alora's
most famous dish: Sopa
Perota
- Check
out a list of What's
on in Alora and
in the surrounding area
For
information on bars and restaurants in Alora:
Bars and Restaurants |
