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The
River Guadalhorce crosses the municipality of Pizarra from north to south.
These are lands that, while not flat, are not characterised by complex terrain
but rather by their extensive and rich irrigated lowlands abounding with citrus.
There are also frequent plantations of other fruit trees, however, and spaces
devoted to market gardens. In the western part, on the other hand, the predominant
crops are grains and olives. Mount Hacho, which at 447 metres is the highest
point in this municipality, stands out from the greenery of the lowlands.
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Traces of prehistoric settlements have turned up in this municipality and some Phoenician implements have been found, and there is even reason to believe that it also must have been occupied by the Romans. The fact is that the name of the village appears for the first time in the late fifteenth century when, according to chronicles, the Catholic Monarchs donated 100 “fanegas” (an ancient unit of land) in the “place called Pizarra” to Diego Romero, in gratitude for the conquest of Alora. Construction on Diego Romero’s manor house began at that time. Centuries later the Puerto Hermoso palace and the parish church would rise over that site and the small cluster of houses that were the origin of the village began to spring up around these two principal buildings. It was organised as a municipal territory by a Royal Decree of the Tribunal Superior de Justicia (Supreme Court of Justice) in 1847.
The village entered the modern age in 1859 with the construction of the railway and with the laying out of the road that links Alora with the city of Malaga, which by passing through Pizarra would also help to lift this community out of isolation. One of the most important historic events to occur in this village during the twentieth century was without a doubt the conference held on 4 and 5 February 1922 in the Conde de Puerto Hermoso palace, which was attended by the highest ranking Spanish authorities of the time. The genesis of this conference was the resounding defeat of the Spanish army in Morocco in what is known as the “Disaster of Annual”. For the purpose of seeking a solution to the reversal and recovering national prestige the President of the Government, Antonio Maura; the High Commissioner for Morocco, Dámaso Berenguer; the Minister of State, González Hontoria; the Minister of War, Juan de la Cierva; and the Minister of the Navy, the Marquise of La Cortina met in Pizarra. A month later, the government of Maura fell and none of the decisions made here could be put into effect.
Fiestas
The first fiesta to be celebrated in Pizarra that has roots in popular tradition
is that of San Blas in February. It is the custom at this time to go to the
convent with a rosca (type of pastry) to be blessed by the saint. In March
or April, the pilgrimage is held to El Santo, a place in the Gibralmora Mountains,
where the image of the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Sacred Heart
of Jesus) is kept. After a mass, the villagers enjoy a day of pleasant fellowship.
On the eve of the day of San Juan (23 June), the Los Cafeteras club organises
the “burning of the Judas” accompanied by a series of musical
performances, and on the next day there is a rural outing on the banks of
the river. The aforementioned Los Cafeteras club also organises the Festival
de Cante Flamenco (Flamenco Song Festival) in August.
The patron saint fiestas in honour of the Virgen de la Fuensanta (Virgin of La Fuensanta) are held from 14 to 18 August. In the mid-morning of the first day, a pealing of bells and shooting of fireworks announce the opening of the Real Feria de Pizarra (Royal Pizarra Fair). The patron saint is brought down from her hermitage-this ceremony is called the “bajá´”-to the parish church that afternoon, and after a solemn religious ceremony the floral offering to the Virgin begins. That night the procession is held, travelling through the upper part of the village, and through the lower part on the next day. There is the curious tradition of the raffle, by which at the cry of “Stop!” the villagers take turns as bearers of the patron saint’s throne. With the religious activities over, the fiesta continues with great animation until 18 August.
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
begins on the morning of Holy Wednesday with the transfer of María
Santísima de los Dolores y Misericordias (Holy Mary of Suffering and
Mercy) from her parish church to her platform on Calle San Pedro, and in the
afternoon the image of Nuestra Señora de las Penas (Our Lady of Hardships)
is transferred from the convent to the parish church. On Holy Thursday, Jesus
Nazareno (Jesus of Nazareth) is borne in a procession by both men and women,
and there is also the procession of María Santísima de los Dolores.
This day’s climactic moment is the “meeting” of the two
thrones on the church plaza. The next day the procession of Cristo del Perdón
(Christ of Forgiveness) starts at the same spot that the Nazarene did, while
the procession of the Virgen de los Dolores (Solitude) departs from her platform.
These two thrones also meet in the square, with a fervent public witnessing
the act. In the pre-dawn hours of Holy Saturday the entourage of Cristo Yacente
de la Paz y la Unidad (Recumbent Christ of Peace and Unity) departs from the
interior of the parish church, with the throne of Nuestra Señora de
las Penas following this one. The first throne is carried by men, and the
second by women.
Food
Pizarra’s most typical dish is “sopa aplastá”,
a variation on the sopa perota of Alora (a soup made of bread, peppers and
tomatoes). Tortillas de patatas (potato omelettes) are also a very traditional
item of Pizarreña cuisine, as are gazpacho (a cold soup), conejo (rabbit)
and empanadillas (meat pies). Roscos and rosquillas (spiral pastries) made
from pan de higo (fig bread) are the best examples of the local confectionery.
How to get there:
If you leave from the city of Malaga, take
the A-357 towards Campillos, and after about
25 kilometres connect with the A-343. You will arrive at Pizarra after three
kilometres on this road.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1 (29560). Telephone: 952 483
015; Fax: 952 483 574.
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