Alpujarra de la Sierra travel information and video

La Alpujarra de la Sierra

The municipality of La Alpujarra de la Sierra is situated on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, just inland from the Costa Tropical; it offers endless hilly undulations, and where the houses look towards the sea across terraced farmlands. Here the sun gets hot, but is contrasted by the cool evening fresh air.

La Alpujarra de la Sierra is just one of 50 small villages in the area and has managed to retain beautifully its old Berber architecture, with charming white houses, clay roofs and tiny narrow streets.

Natural surroundings
Set between the highest mountains in Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, La Alpujarra is one of the most enchanting and beautiful regions in the world. It’s one of Spains´s best kept secrets, a wonderful land of sunshine, snowy mountains and some of the most splendid scenery imaginable.

The high mountains have their own special beauty; wild in winter, they come alive in early summer with the scents of wild herbs and the spectacle of tiny, brilliantly coloured flowers, many of them unique to the Sierra Nevada.

Altitude and sun have combined to evolve more botanical species in la Alpujarra than in all the rest of Europe.

The lush vegetation, views of snow covered peaks and fantastic hikes between the many small ancient villages, make La Alpujarra de la Sierra the perfect rural destination.

Towns and villages of La Alpujarra de la Sierra
The architecture of the little mountain villages from La Alpujarra is unique in Europe and is identical to the Berber style of the Atlas mountains of Northern Africa. The dwellings are characterised by flat clay roofs and jutting chimney pots.

The villages were built by the Moorish settlers, the area was a Spanish Muslim stronghold until the Castilians took Granada in 1492.  

The properties were created by following the half-natural, half-man made designs of their own mountain lands. Simplistic in their form, the villages appear to be accidently dropped down
the steep hillsides, connected by a labyrinth of narrow, winding cobbled streets. With roses and geraniums spilling from every corner and window box in town.

The municipality, which was borne from the merger of 3 villages, those of Mecina, Bombaron and Yegen, was made famous by the British Author Gerald Brenan, who wrote his famous ‘South of Granada’ based on his stay in Yegen.

Places to visit
The seaside resort Salobreña by the Mediterranean (with its 9-hole golf course)
is just one hour’s drive away and the city of Málaga and its airport approximately 3 hours drive.

The beautiful and historical city of Granada, with the famous Alhambra Moorish Palace is 100 kilometres, or one hour’s drive away, and the skiing resort of the Sierra Nevada on the north
side of the mountain; the Mediterranean coast just one hour away.

La Alpujarra de la Sierra is a serious rural retreat, for those who want to visit beauty and enjoy a holiday in perfectly natural surroundings.

Cuisine
Typical cuisine of the region is based on hearty, rustic cooking; lots of stews, trout, rabbit and goat
dishes.

One speciality of the region is a dish called Plato Alpujarreño, which is literally a plate of eggs, fried peppers, black pudding, sausage, cured ham and fried potatoes; it’s a bit like a Spanish all-day breakfast, delicious!

Climate
La Alpujarra de la Sierra has a wonderful climate, with skies so clear that you will marvel at the amount of stars you can see at night, with a micro climate which means the sun shines nearly all year round.

Its altitude means that during winter, nights and often days, can get quite chilly, but wrap up warn
and enjoy the landscape, which is just as stunning in winter, as in the summer.