Alpujarras

Las Alpujarras is a mountainous district in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous region of Andaluc?a. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada and the eastern part in the province of Almer?a. In older sources the name is sometimes spelled Alpuxarras; it derives from Arabic al Busherat meaning "the grass-land".

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The region consists principally of valleys which descend at right angles from the crest of the Sierra Nevada on the north, to the Sierras Almijara, Contraviesa and Gador, which separate it from the Mediterranean Sea, to the south.

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The region is one of great natural beauty, and it is sometimes referred to as "The Spanish Switzerland". Because of a warm southerly climate combined with a reliable supply of water for irrigation from the rivers running off the Sierra Nevada, the valleys of the western Alpujarras are among the most fertile in Spain, though the steep nature of the terrain means that they can only be cultivated in small fields, so that many modern agricultural techniques are impractical. They contain a

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rich abundance of fruit trees, especially grape vines, oranges, lemons, figs and almonds. The eastern Alpujarras, in the province of Almer?a, are more arid, but still highly attractive.

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The Alpujarras were successively settled by Ibero-Celtic peoples, by the Romans, and by Visigoths before the Moorish conquest of southern Spain in the eighth century. The region was the last refuge of the Moors, who were allowed to remain there long after the fall of Granada in 1492. Following the Morisco Revolt of 1568, the Moorish population was forced from the region after the Moriscos used it as a military base. By order of the Spanish crown, two Moorish families were required to remain in each village in order to demonstrate to the new inhabitants, introduced from northern Spain, the workings of the terracing and irrigation systems on which the district's agriculture depends.

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The influence of the Moorish population can be seen in the agriculture, the distinct cubic architecture (reminiscent of Berber architecture in Morocco's Atlas Mountains) the local cuisine, the local carpet weaving, and the numerous Arabic placenames.

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The largest villages in the district are Lanjaron, with its ruined castle and chalybeate baths, ?rgiva, Trev?lez and Ugijar. All are situated at a considerable elevation, and Trev?lez, at 1476 metres above sea level, is the highest recognised town in Spain. The three "white villages" in the gorge of the Rio Poqueira, Pampaneira, Bubi?n and Capileira, have become recognised tourist destinations; however there are many other equally traditional villages of similar appearance, for example those in the La Taha municipality to the east of the Poqueira gorge. The steepness of the land means that the houses in the villages seem to be piled on top of another, and their characteristic flat roofs, tall chimneys, and balconies (tin?os) extending across the steep narrow streets give them a unique and picturesque appearance.

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Among the agricultural specialities of the region is a variety of air-cured ham, especially associated with Trev?lez. In general, however, the impossibility of mechanising agriculture in such a district means that it is not competitive under modern conditions, and the growth area of the economy is tourism. The district is served by bus services from Granada, and can be reached in a few hours from the international airport at M?laga. The GR7 (E4) "Mediterranean Arc" European long-distance footpath passes through the region.

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Spain: The Kingdom of Spain or Spain (Spanish and Galician: Reino de Espa?a or Espa?a; Catalan: Regne d'Espanya; Basque: Espainiako Erresuma; Asturian: Reinu d'Espa?a or Espa?a) is a country located in the southwest of Europe. It shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra. To the nor...

Sierra Nevada: Sierra Nevada, meaning "snowy range" in Spanish, is the name of at least two mountain ranges:...

Granada: Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the community of Andalusia, Spain. It is situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of two rivers, Darro and Genil, at an elevation of 738 metres above sea level. At the 2003 census, the population of the ...

Alpujarras related Images and Photos (experimental)

Almond Blossom in Springtime in the Alpujarras Granada Andalucia Spain Europe