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The territory of Alcauiín, in the northern part of La Axarquía on the border of the province of Granada, stretches between the imposing Sierra de Tejeda, the rugged Boquete de Zafarraya –a natural gap between the coast and the interior- and the Periana corridor, where the topography tends to be gentler. Its municipal boundaries, therefore, contain exceptionally varied and surprising geographic features, giving it a spectacular wealth of scenery. For more information about property for sale in Spain in or near Alcaucin please contact us.
While archaeological relics of tremendous importance have been found within its limits (ceramics from different eras and a Neanderthal jawbone), the urban nucleus of Alcaucín was established in the Arabic era, from which it preserves its name, Alcavzin or Alcautin, whose approximate translation is “the arches”.
Narrow and winding streets, whitewashed houses, interior courtyards brimming with plants and flowers, stairways over uneven terrain and steep slopes attest to the Moorish design of this village, whose residents must undoubtedly have participated in the Moorish uprisings that occurred in sixteenth century La Axarquía, although this is not documented. It is known, though, that in 1569, the Moor (Christianised Moor) Andrés de Xorairán attacked Alcaucín, but this uprising like so many others was quickly put down by Christian troops.
Fiestas
Alcaucín’s festive schedule is very full and there is hardly
a month that does not include some kind of celebration, but the most prominent
are those pertaining to Semana Santa (Holy Week), San Isidro, Las Candelarias,
the Feria de Agosto (August fair) and the Virgen del Rosario.
Tradition dictates that during the Semana Santa most
of the villagers participate in the staging of the “judíos”
spectacle. They dress for it in masks and costumes of the era and for two
days one part of the neighbourhood devotes itself to harassing the other.
For the day of San Isidro (15 May) there is a pilgrimage to the Alcázar,
a spot near the centre of the village where the groups share and exchange
food and drink.
In the first part of September the people assemble at the farmsteads and rural
communities for “Las Candelarias”, a sort of ritual in which they
stoke bonfires with old clothes and furniture and share a few hours of harmless
revelry.
The Feria de Agosto (August Fair) includes a flamenco festival in which famed
cantaores (flamenco singers) and guitarists perform. The day of the Virgen
del Rosario, patron saint of the locality (7 October), is also known as the
“little fair”, and as far as activities are concerned it differs
little from the August festivities.
Food
The gastronomic tradition of La Axarquia has been turned upside down with
the introduction some years back of a number of subtropical crops (avocadoes,
custard apples, mangos, papayas, etc.), which have been incorporated into
the regional cuisine so that nowadays innovative dishes based on subtropical
products alternate with traditional ones to such an extent that it is as if
they had always existed in the region. Nevertheless, buñuelos (buns),
choto (kid) seasoned in various ways, lomo de cerdo al ajillo (pork loin with
garlic), potaje (stew) and tortilla de bacalao con miel (codfish omelette
with honey) still hold wide appeal.
How to get there:
Take the Mediterranean Expressway (A-7) in the direction of Vélez
Málaga. It is not necessary to go into the central part of that
locality since the A-335 turns off the Mediterranean Expressway itself and
will take you to the Cruce de Don Manuel turnoff. At that point, you should
take the MA-128 road, which leads directly to Alcaucín.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza de la Constitución, 1 (29711). Telephone: 952 510
002; Fax: 952 510 076
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