| The municipality of Alcaucín extends into
the northern part of the Axarquía, between the Sierra de Tejeda and the
flatter Periana area, between the spectacular Boquete de Zafarraya cliffs
and the Axarquía mountains. The most direct road to the town is by the
main road to Vélez. From this road we turn off onto the la Viñuela road
and continue on until we reach Puente Don Manuel, an important cross-roads
in the Axarquía, where we find the road that brings us directly to Alcaucín.
As soon as we enter the town we can see the clear Morisco influence, with
low houses, whitewashed facades and above all, the narrow, winding
streets. Everything centres on the town square, the former Plaza de San
Sebastian that has now been re-named the Plaza de la Constitución, where
the church and the Town Hall building stands. Most of the old buildings
and houses of the town date from the 17th and 18th centuries, when the
palatial mansions on calle Arcos and calle Nueva were built, each with its
coat of arms. The town's name is Arab in origin, deriving from Al Cautin,
meaning The Arches. Some historians have suggested the reason for this
being the existence of an aqueduct in the area, while others believe the
name refers to the abundance of yew trees, the wood of which was used to
make bows (arco translates as either arch or bow) for warfare and hunting.
What is certain is that the area has been populated since pre-historic
times, as is evident in the remains found in the Boquete de Zafarraya. It
is also believed that the fortress of Zalia was built by the Phoenicians
and later occupied by the Moors, falling the Christians in 1485 when
the castle was used as a prison for rebel Moriscos. It was besieged during
the Napoleonic invasion in a later period. But the worst disaster that
ever befell Alcaucín was the earthquake of the late 19th century that
destroyed houses and changed the course of underground streams. |
PLACES TO VISIT
- Church
of El Rosario and Hermitage of El Calvario
The church was built in the early part of the 18th century and
inaugurated in April, 1732. Its basic shape is two naves supported by
three semicircular arches, with a circular side chapel decorated in
plaster in the rococo style. The hermitage in the cemetery, known as
the Calvario, was founded in the 18th century and is square in shape
with a semicircular arch doorway.
- Archeological remains
Among the more important items found is the jaw of a Neanderthal
man, dating from 30,000 years ago. The Cueva de los Guaicos and the
Abrigo Espino date from the Neolithic period, and the Cerro de la
Negreta finds date from the Bronze Age.
- Sierra de Alcázar
The Sierra del Alcázar Nature Park is about five kilometres from
the town centre, in the heart of the Sierra de Tejeda. The Environment
Agency has developed the area for camping, with all relevant services.
The surrounding landscape is dominated by the Alcázar stream, the
vegetation on the banks being lush with lots of black poplars,
oleander and heather. There is a pathway that leads upwards to the Tajo Fuerte, where one can observe how the vegetation changes, giving
way to junipers, sanamundas and other higher-ground trees.
- The Majadas baths
The Majadas Baths, fed by sulphur waters and with excellent
healing properties (especially for skin disorders), were used in
Moorish times, and up to the beginning of the last century were still
used in the months of July and August. They can be found at about five
kilometres from the town.
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| THE LEGEND OF ZALIA
A local legend says that in the Mesa de
Zalía there was once an ancient city which some authorities claim to
have been the famous Odyscia, where the adventures of Ulysses took
place while he was travelling these coastlines after the Trojan War.
Some says that the nymph Calypso entertained the King of Itaca in this
place. Another version claims that the city of Tagara was situated
here too. A second legend, of Christian origin, says that Salia de
Patricio, Bishop of Malaga, made his second visit to the town to
convert the people of the area, failing to actually do so. It was
night when he began his journey back to Malaga, and while he travelled
the ground opened up and snakes came out to bite the people of Sália,
as a punishment by the Lord. Not surprisingly, the town has been
abandoned since that time.
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| FIESTAS
Alcaucín celebrates its Las Candelarias
festival in September, with bonfires by night drawing the entire town
to the festivities. The Virgen del Rosario festival takes place a
month later. On January 20th is the San Sebastián procession, this
saint being the town's patron, and there is speech-making in the late
evening. The carnival is very important in this town, featuring mainly
the so-called Grupos de Judíos more appropriate to the Holy Week
celebrations. The Romería de San Isidro Labrador takes place in the
middle of May, along with a Cultural Week. The Flamenco Festival is
held in the second week of August, and is one of the most popular in
the area.
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| GASTRONOMY
The most important culinary delights of
Alcaucín are the cod tarts with honey, the gachas (flour-based garlic
mix), the tropezones (small pieces of meat) and the pumpkins with
sardines. There are also the home-made pastries and breads, olive oil
based tarts and wine doughnuts. All this can be washed down by the
excellent moscatel wine made from local grapes.
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