11 things to do in Álora, a natural and historical jewel
At CTR La Garganta we remain committed to our environment and the wonders it houses, which is why in this post we show you the best options you have for your visit to Álora.
Where is Alora?
It is located in the center of the province of Malaga , just 40 kilometers from the capital of the Costa del Sol and in the heart of the Guadalhorce Valley.
It has a direct connection both by car and by bus or train with the capital , it is also very close to other municipalities such as Ardales, Carratraca (here are recommendations to take advantage of your visit to Carratraca ), Antequera, Valle de Abdalajís, Cártama, Almogía and Pizarra.
It is located less than 12 kilometers from the CTR La Garganta facilities , so it is ideal to spend a day while you are with us.
History of Alora
The origins of Álora date back to Neolithic times , as certified by the Hoyo del Conde archaeological site, located one kilometer from the city.
Since this time, the area in which the city is located has always been populated, since it has a magnificent geographical orientation towards the sea and is protected by mountains at its back. Álora has been inhabited by Tartessos, Phoenicians, Iberians, Visigoths and Arabs throughout its history.
All these towns left their stamp on the culture, traditions and buildings of the city, of which the Álora Castle, the Church Tower, the Nuestra Señora de las Flores Convent and many others stand out.
Historical note: during the reign of Felipe IV, Miguel de Cervantes was the king’s collector in Álora.
What to do in Alora?
Álora offers a variety of sports and cultural activities that are difficult to compare throughout the Guadalhorce Valley, which is why we offer you a series of 11 activities and monuments that you must visit during your visit to Álora from CTR La Garganta.
Álora Castle
It is located on the Cerro de Las Torres . It was built on the remains of an old hermitage from Phoenician and Roman times, although the structure that remains of the Castillo de Álora was built under Arab rule in the Middle Ages.
The structure of the castle is made up of two walled enclosures. The lower one, irregular in shape, adapts to the relief of the area serving as the first defense wall, while the upper one has a square surface with 6 towers to increase the defensive capacity.
Next to the castle is the beautiful Ali Ben Falcum “al Baezi” viewpoint , which offers panoramic views of the entire Álora plain.
Tip of La Garganta: Next to the viewpoint you can find a plaque with the Romance of Álora in full.
Convent of Our Lady of the Flowers
This convent, located on the outskirts of the municipality, dates from the 16th century , when it was built by the Franciscan Recoletos . It is made up of a single nave with a baroque-style dressing room inside, which houses the venerated image of the Virgen de las Flores , patron saint of Álora.
In front of the convent is the Cruz del Humilladero , a small building which commemorates the delivery of the keys to Álora by the last Muslim governor after the reconquest.
Historical note: the image of the Virgen de las Flores was delivered by Isabel la Católica in 1502.
Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation
It is located in the Plaza Baja de la Despedida. It is one of the largest churches in the entire province of Malaga. It was built between 1600 and 1699. The church has a rectangular plan with three naves separated by Tuscan columns and semicircular arches. On its roof there are twelve 18th century frescoes that show the twelve apostles.
Inside, several of the most devoted images of the city are housed , such as the Most Holy Christ Crucified or the Most Holy Mary of Love. In addition to Saint Francis of Assisi in polychrome wood.
Rafael Leri Municipal Museum
The museum shows the history and artistic heritage of Álora , the highlight being a series of archaeological pieces that take a historical tour of the evolution of the city.
Although, the most outstanding thing about the museum is the history of the building itself. Despite the fact that there is no data to corroborate it, it is thought that the building could be the chapel of the San Sebastián hospital , which was built by the Catholic Monarchs. In addition, it was used as the headquarters of the Priestly Order of the School of Christ.
The entrance price to the museum is €1.50, although for groups of more than 10 people it is reduced to €1.20.
Monument to Cante por la Malagueña
It is an allegorical sculpture about the idealization of flamenco. It was built to value flamenco and, specifically, this style of cante, which was born in Álora itself.
Monument to cante por malagueña Álora
It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular monuments in the city, we recommend that you do not miss it.
Hermitage of the Three Crosses
It is located in the Montes de Álora, on a triple border formed by the municipalities of Almogía, Cártama and Álora. The name is due to the fact that inside it houses three crosses, one in each nave, which belong to these three municipalities. Although the neighboring municipality of Pizarra has joined them.
During the crosses of May, in this hermitage are the 4 crosses of the 4 municipalities.
Ascent to Hacho de Álora
El Hacho is the mountain that protects Álora to the north and offers magnificent views of the Hoya de Málaga and Álora itself, without a doubt it is one of the greatest natural heritage in this area.
You can start the ascent from the city itself or from Venta Fuente de la Higuera, which is 1 km from Álora. The path does not present any technical or physical complexity, so it can be done as a couple or with the family. It runs along a lane that is concreted in sections and always “picks” upwards but is very smooth.
Shortly after beginning the climb you will be able to see Mount Huma, the Nuestra Señora de las Flores Convent, the Torcal de Antequera or the Torrecilla among other systems and mountain peaks, without a doubt a unique experience for lovers of hiking and nature.
Tip of La Garganta: halfway, more or less, you can take a small path to the Pedro Sánchez fountain to rest and drink water, which, according to the locals, is one of the best in the entire area.
As soon as the road to El Hacho resumes, you will find several viewpoints to observe the views that, thanks to the height gained, will be better than at the beginning.
As soon as you see the geodesic vertex , you will already be reaching the summit! so take it easy and enjoy the views. The path continues towards the antenna and narrows to end at the Cruz del Hacho, the goal of the path.
From La Cruz you have the best views of Álora , especially if you are lucky enough to walk the path on a sunny day.
To return to Álora, all you have to do is follow your steps towards Venta Fuente de la Higuera or take one of the signposted paths from El Hacho towards the city.
Sierra de Aguas Trail
This route is quite different from that of El Hacho as it runs through a pine forest between the neighboring town of Carratraca and Álora itself.
On this trail you can spot griffon vultures , peregrine falcons, kestrels, Bonelli’s eagles or mountain goats among other species.
The path does not present any difficult route or special hardness , the only thing to take into account when doing it is that you have to move along the road that connects Carratraca and Ardales, which has a slightly deteriorated surface. Approximately at kilometer 2.8 you have to take a crossroads where you can park and start the route.
The Caminito del Rey
Located in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes , the Caminito del Rey is about 12 kilometers from Álora. Undoubtedly, the most recommended option , since from CTR La Garganta you can book your visit and lunch or dinner (we offer you round trip travel from our facilities).
The Caminito del Rey is about 8 kilometers long, it was remodeled and opened to the public in 2016. It has impressive views of the gorge , reaching a maximum height of 100 meters above the Guadalhorce river.
Also, if you are a lover of climbing, this area is one of the most popular in Andalusia for its practice.
If you want more information about the Caminito del Rey, we leave you our post about it, click here.
Traditional festivals of Álora
Álora is one of those cities that does not stop throughout the year, which is why we bring you this list with several of the activities that take place throughout the year:
- Holy Week: it is one of the most important and with the most devotion in the province of Malaga. Of the whole week, the morning of Good Friday stands out with the ceremony of “La Despedida”.
- Álora Fair: held at the end of July and beginning of August. The city is a hive of activities and celebrations.
- Cante Grande Festival: held between July and August. It is organized by the city’s flamenco club.
- Cruces de Mayo: takes place in the Hermitage of the Three Crosses. It has been celebrated since the 18th century, it has a Verdiales Festival and you can taste typical products of the area during its celebration.
- Day of Perotas Soups : it is celebrated on the first Saturday of October in the Plaza de la Despedida. In it, a bowl of soup is given to each person who comes to the square in order to promote the typical products of Álora.
- Pilgrimage of the Virgen de las Flores: on the patron saint’s day, September 8, the Virgen de las Flores is brought down to the Church of La Encarnación. Just the following Sunday, the pilgrimage takes place from the Church of La Encarnación to the Convent of Las Flores.
- Al-Loárabe Nights: During the first weekend of July, Álora commemorates the cultural legacy left by the Arabs after passing through the city. The streets of the town are decorated and an Arab market is held in the Plaza de la Despedida.
Stroll through its streets
Álora is a city that consists of white houses, winding and narrow streets, this means that the best way to carry out almost all of the activities that we have previously proposed can be done by wandering through its streets.
To guide you a bit, the streets and squares you should walk through in Álora are:
- wide
- Lane
- Ravine
- Back
- cantarranas
- Plaza Fuente Arriba
- Farewell Square
Riddle of La Garganta: when you visit Álora, will you be able to find the plaque/s that commemorate the stay of Miguel de Cervantes? Share it on our social networks!
Álora, like other cities and towns that we show you on our blog , are very close to CTR La Garganta and offer great cultural, gastronomic and sports experiences to complement your stay at our facilities.
