Property For Sale in Spain - Algatocin - Apartments, Townhouses, Villas,
Fincas, Cortijos.
Algatocín is in the southern part of the Ronda
region between the rivers Genal and Guadiaro and nestled in a mountain range
more than 700 metres above sea level. It is a classic mountain village, a splash
of white houses amidst the green of the nearby forests. It is a gift to the
senses -especially the sight- and a temptation to the photographer. For more
information about property for sale in
Spain in or near Algatocin please contact us. In this region a perfect balance
has been reached between development and the scenic surroundings, no doubt due
to the Algatocileños’ innate respect for the bountiful nature that
surrounds the village, a respect or wisdom that is also to be seen in the way
the terrain and the natural resources are used. Thus the lands where water is
most abundant, such as the highest part of the Guadiaro valley, are used for
irrigated crops, while those in the Genal valley, a more rugged area, yield
products of its varied forest cover. In the village itself, which is Moorish
in origin, the streets are zigzag, sloping or narrow to adapt to the uneven
terrain, and among its simple and neatly whitewashed houses several buildings
from the eighteenth century stand out, lending a touch of nobility to the urban
complex with their coats of arms and porticoed façades. It is not reckless
to assert that Algatocín originated during the Roman domination, judging
from the remains found at Cerrogordo, a place very close to the village. It
is much more reasonable, though, to credit the Arabs with founding this village,
whose written historical record begins with the settlement of the Berber Al
Atusiyin tribe. A legend has it that the village’s name comes from that
of Princess Algotisa, daughter of Abomelia, second Moorish king of Ronda. Be
that as it may, this locality was not consolidated until after it was conquered
by Christian troops and repopulated with Castilian families. The most traditional
celebrations are the one for the patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario, and the
one for San Francisco on 4 to 7 October. Street marches, dances, a procession,
the “diana floreada” and countless other activities are held with
great public participation. On the days of San Isidro (15 May) and San Juan
(24 June), there are various pilgrimages in an area called Salitre. The Candelaria
festivities on 2 February are also very popular. On that date, the traditional
hornazos (sausage and ham pies decorated with hard-boiled eggs) are made and
there is also a showy release of doves. Corpus Christi is also celebrated with
great solemnity in Algatocín, in whose profusely decorated streets altars
are set up to welcome the Holy One. Garden and pork products, olive oil and
home baked bread rule the cuisine of Algatocín, where the seasons usually
influence the recipe selection, although there are dishes that are enjoyed all
year long. Some spring dishes are stews of wild greens such as targarninas (golden
thistle), collejas (frothy poppy), hinojos (fennel) or espárragos trigueros
(wild asparagus). Gazpacho campero and gazpacho fresco (cold soups) or tortilla
de acelgas (chard omelette) are more customary in the summer, and at the onset
of cold weather serrano (mountain) stews and the different thick soups come
into prominence, as well as rabbit stews. Pork sausages enjoy a well-deserved
fame.There is a wide variety of pastries in Algatocín, ranging from alfajores
(almond paste), buñuelos (buns) and meloja (honey, squash and almonds),
to gachas de harina con miel de caldera (a soup made of flour and honey) and
the exquisite jams, especially those made from plums, quince, blackberries and
pears. To all this should be added mostachones (almond candy), pestiños
(a kind of sweet fritter) tostones de castañas (roasted chestnuts) and
suspiros (a sweet made from flour, sugar and egg). The Moorish tradition can
be seen in many of these pastries, in whose ingredients flour and olive oil
play a prominent part. How to get there:
Coming from the Costa
del Sol, by either the AP-7 expressway or the old N-340, take the A-377
at Manilva, which will take you to Gaucín.
Here take the A-369, which is the continuation of the A-377 and leads to Algatocín.
If you begin the trip in Ronda, you only need take
the A-369 towards Algeciras, and Algatocín will be 30 kilometres from
the city of the famous El Tajo. Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Fuente, 2 (29491). Telephone: 952 150 000; Fax: 952 150 081.
