Las Alpujarras
The region of mountain villages known as聽Las Alpujarras聽clings to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada. The terraced farmlands of this region are watered by the melting snow from above. Here you will find fruit orchards and cereal crops that form an ever-changing patchwork of colour and texture on the gentler hillsides while clumps of聽chestnut, oak and pine聽cloak the steeper slopes. Much of the region鈥檚 fertility is still due to complicated water systems that, like many of the cultivated crops, have hardly changed since the Middle Ages. The area produces especially delicious figs, apricots, dried fruits, nuts and honey.
A visit to the Alpujarras is like stepping back in time. It is a refreshing change from our overly busy daily lives. Three must-see villages include聽Pampaneira, Bubin and Capileira. Everywhere the views are stunning but they鈥檙e especially panoramic from Capileira, which is the highest village of the three villages. Be sure to walk down the road into the maze of backstreets, which are pretty much in their original form.
You can鈥檛 help but notice the聽Berber architecture聽here. This is a result of the fact that the Moors, who didn鈥檛 want to convert to Christianity, were exiled to the Alpujarras after the conquest of Granada in 1492. Despite the fact that these villages were later resettled with Christian families, the unique hamlets have retained their traditional Berber architecture with terraced clusters of grey-white box-shaped houses with flat clay roofs. This style of architecture has been in use since the Bronze Age and can only be found here and in the Rif and Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
Local restaurants offer mainly meat-based dishes with local ham, as the area has long been known for its聽famous dried hams聽(jam贸n serrano). Traditionally the best hams come from聽Trev茅lez, which is located at the top of the Alpujarras and is considered to be the highest village in Europe.
Visitors approaching from the coast will encounter the town of聽脫rgiva, which is at crossroads of the broad Guadalfeo valley. This area has been a haven for hippies for years now. About 10 kilometres to the west of 脫rgiva is the small, town of聽Lanjar贸n. Lanjar贸n is famous for its聽hot springs聽and its聽mineral water, which you鈥檒l find served almost everywhere throughout Andaluc铆a. The town has magnificent views of the valley and a small Moorish castle that鈥檚 worth a visit.