The streets of Algatocín are narrow and winding, in the traditional Moorish style.

The municipality extends from east to west on the flanks of the mountain range that separates the Genal and Guadiaro rivers, rich in pine, chestnut, oak and cork plantations, while the town itself is situated at the foot of the Sierrecilla, 724 metres above sea level. The Genil Valley is a wonderful landscape of white houses speckled across the hill known as the Loma del Fraile, and the urban layout owes its origins to the Moorish past. The houses and the streets are built on ground that rises and falls with the landscape, narrow and sinuous, with the low houses all whitewashed. There are also some 18th century houses with imposing entrances. The Hermitage of Santo Cristo is in the higher part of the town, and the Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, dating from the 16th century, is more central. Tradition has it that it was built on the ruins of what was the Palace of Algatois, daughter of a Moorish king. It is believed that the town was founded by a Berber tribe called the Al Atusiyin, from where the name derives. But little is known about its history since then, except that, following the re-conquest in the 15th century, Algatocín grew steadily into the prosperous town it is today, with agriculture the main source of income for most of the inhabitants. There are two separate kinds of agricultural activity in two different areas of the municipality: the first in the higher part of the Guadiaro Valley called Salitre, which is rich in irrigation water and therefore suitable for certain types of crop, and the the second in the Genal Valley itself, an area covered in oak, cork, pine, olive, almond, fig and chestnut trees, suitable mainly for the cultivation of fruit. There is also an abundance of aromatic plants here, like rock rose, thyme and rosemary, along with a number of medicinal plants like eucalyptus and lemon balm.

Places to be visited

The town The 16th century parish church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario was built, according to local tradition, on the ruins of what used to be the palace of Algatoisa, daughter of a Moorish king. There are also many interesting entrances to 18th century houses in the town, and in the upper part of the town we find the Hermitage of Santo Cristo. Typical parts of the town Other interesting spots to visit are the Iberian/Roman remains, the two olive oil and flour mills outside the town, the San Antonio fountain and the Plaza de la Alameda. Trekking routes The area surrounding the town is rich in natural beauty, as well as having an important ecological value, and there are many routes one can take for trekking. One of them brings us by the Route of the Hermitage to the building itself, from where the view is spectacular, while others are called the Route of the Sierra, of the Castallas, and the pathways of Salitre and Benalauría. Agricultural landscape Apart from the two separate areas of agriculture in the municipality already mentioned, there is a timber mills run as a co-operative beside the river Genal and two pork processing factories in the town itself.

Where to eat

Venta Solera. Cortes de la Frontera crossroads. Tel: 952 150 186. Venta Valdivias. Specialising in rabbit. Salitre area. Tel: 952 117 067. Bar La Alameda. Specialising in pulpo a la gallega. In the town¹s Alameda. Bar Tropezón. In the Alameda.

Where to sleep

Hotel-Camping Salitre (3*). This establishment has 18 rooms (14 doubles, 3 junior and one suite). Tel/fax: 952 11 70 05.   Rural Houses. Martinas I y II. Tel: 952 150 048 - Algatoiza and Ochavita. Tel: 952 150 225. (Both rural houses can be rented through tourist offices). Camping del Genal. Only tents and caravans. Tel: 952 152 126.  Camping Salitre. Shops, caravans and bungalows. Tel/fax: 952 11 70 05. Rural Accommodation in the province of Malaga (in Spanish)

Some Algatocín buildings date from the 18th century

FIESTAS
Tradition and local participation is the keyword to the festivals in Algatocín. The festive calender begins on February 2nd, with the festival of Ntra. Sra. de la Candelaria. The most authentic traditions here are the freeing of pigeons and the making of home-made baked cakes. The carnival takes place at the end of the month, and in the middle of May there is the San Isidro Romería in Salitre. June sees the festival of Corpus Christi, with streets filled with flowers and altars, and the Romería of San Juan takes place at the end of this month. The big town feria is scheduled for the first week in October, and is held in honour of the patron saints San Francisco de Asís and Ntra. Sra. del Rosario. The Masses of Aguinaldo, or Mañanitas, take place during the third week of December.

GASTRONOMY
Among the most important of the local Algatocín dishes are the kid stews, the rabbit in sauce, the various dishes made from pork and the Roman bread. The soups include the typical countryside gazpacho, and for dessert one can choose between the delicious honey tarts, the preserves, the membrillo, the fried doughnuts, the baked cakes and the so-called suspiros, along with the different breads such as green fig bread. Local fruits form an important part of the Algatocín diet. And to accompany the food we have the mistela, a delicious sweet that one can drink.

CRAFTWORK
Some of the people of Algatocín still work in traditional crafts, keeping alive the old traditions that have been lost in many other areas. There are the professional leather workers, those who work in crochet and the makers of rush and cane chairs and baskets. An old wax factory is still in business in the town, and local people produce aromatic teas and home-made medicines from plants in the area.

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