welcome to Las Alpujarras, Andalucia, Spain
A visit to Las Alpujarras is a journey of discovery of a magical mountainous area in Andalucia, with superb scenery and weather, situated on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada, in both provinces of Granada and Almería and whose snowy peaks look towards Africa.
Archeological remains date back to prehistoric times. There is evidence also that the Iberians, Phoenicians and Romans had settlements in La Alpujarra, but it was the Muslims who, from the 8th century till their expulsion in the 16th century, that gave it its present uniqueness and its past glory.
The Moorish influence on the architecture of Las Alpujarras is very evident. The villages and farmsteads are a perfect example of harmony with the environment. They are not unlike those of the Moroccan and Tunisian towns of North Africa.
The flora of Las Alpujarras varies according to the topography and the altitude. On the high hills one finds alpine species such as ribwort plantain, whilst at the lower altitudes the prickly pear cactus grows in abundance.
The fauna of Las Alpujarras is distributed in bands depending on the altitude of the terrain. The Summits are the domain of the mountain goats and the imperial eagles, while The lowest altitudes are home to an impressive variety of wild cats and birds. Hares and wild boars roam everywhere.
With the boom in tourism came the revival of many traditional crafts that were on their way to extinction. This not only brought back the local artisan, but also attracted artists and craftsmen from far afield who chose to make Las Alpujarras their home. |
