Alhaurín el Grande
Municipality of the Guadalhorce Valley

[History] [Places to Visit] [Shopping] [Gastronomy] [Festivities] [Additional Information]

AREA: 72,60 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 239 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 636 l/m²
AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17ºC POPULATION, CENSUS 1994: 18,001

HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE

Situated at the foot of the northern slope of the Sierra de Mijas, this town opens up to the green valley of the Guadalhorce furnishing the landscape with rich citric plots, fruits and vegetables, olive fields and cereals and a majestic sierra which on forming slopes on the sides, takes the pine forest from the border of the town up to the summit which looks out to the sea.

The geographical situation of these lands have favoured man since antiquity. Since the neolithic age, various axes have been found in high plots; the Iberians left important marks in the Fuente del Sol; the Phoenicians could have exploited the lead and silver in this area, while the presence of the Greeks in the old Estación de la Alquería could have influenced some of the agricultural techniques. There are many Roman remains in the area but the Arabs formed the town as it is today. They called the town Alhaurein - the two valleys - and built an important military architecture based on stations and defence towers, of which only a few fragments are left today. During that time, the land enjoyed great prosperity, until it was uninhabited because of the Christian conquest and had to be repopulated with old Christians.

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Places to Visit

The town extends on one side and from its main street others branch out, flanked by whitewashed houses and many coloured plinths. The most important monuments are the parish church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, built at the beginning of the 16th century over the site of a fort, although it suffered various modifications in the 18th and 19th century. There is also the county council, in the Plaza de la Constitución, which occupies the old sight of the convent-hospital of Santa Catalina, where the palace of Montellano is located.

Some other places of notable interest are the archaological sites and remains of Arabic origin such as the old fort of Fahala, the watchtower of Ubrique, and Roman remains such as in the Fuente del Sol and the Moor mill of the Corchos. On the road to Mijas, there is the chapel of the Cristo de la Agonía, from the 18th century, and at the edge of the Coín to Málaga road is the fountain of the Doce Caños or Fuente Lucena.

There are also two other chapels which capture one's attention, especially of those who live in the town: the 17th century chapel of San Sebastian and the chapel of Vera Cruz, which has a singular three bodied tower and a triangular structure. Both temples are the seats of rival brotherhoods, the "moraos" and the "verdes", who strive to better their processions at Easter.

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Shopping

There is no handicraft industry as such, although there are specialists in pita fibre, esparto grass, espadrilles, and metal forging, and the women still make handmade lace-work.

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Gastronomy

The Alhaurín gastronomy is ample and varied with typical plates such as: 'migas' breadcrumbs fried with garlic and 'gachas cachorreñas' porridge with spices, 'allullas', 'dolcas', patties, sauce, broths, garlic soup, and many desserts such as sponge cakes, oil buns, fritters, macaroons, date bread, egg rusks, fried rusks, french toast and oil cakes.

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FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS

The carnival is celebrated in February and on the 3rd of May are the Crosses, with processions and religious performances, as well as the traditional flower arrangements around the figure of the Holy Cross. From the 24th to the 28th of May are the festivities which include various ludic and recreational activities, the pilgrimage to Vallehermoso, and the release of young bulls through the town. On the 15th of August is the patron saint's festivities, Nuestra Señora de Gracia, and Jesus of Nazareth who is honoured on the 10th day after Corpus Christi. As well as the festivity of San Antón which includes sporting competitions, horse exhibitions, and open air dancing, the Easter celebrations are the most significant with processions in which the "moraos" and "verdes" compete against each other.

It is also worth mentioning some of the peculiar local folklore, such as the "cantes de la trilla" singing, the Alhaurín fandangos and the Christmas pastorals.

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