Plaza baja

Alhaurín el Grande is situated at the foot of the northern slopes of the Mijas mountains, offering wonderful views over the Guadalhorce Valley, rich in fruit and vegetable patches, and olive and cereal groves. The municipality has other urban areas apart from Alhaurín itself, the result of its agricultural development, such as Villa franco del Guadalhorce, el Cigarral and la Fuente del Perro. The principal river is the Fahala, into which the Jurique and the Torres streams flow. There is also the Pasadas river, which flows from the Barranco Blanco area through beautiful waterfalls and lakes. The original name has led to much discussion in the past, but we do know that Pliny referred to the place as both "Andorisae" and "Andorisippo". On the other hand, Rodríguez Berlanga suggests "Iluro", Guillén Robles claims it was Lauro, but there is little documentation to support these theories. Archaeological remains from various periods point to human presence of the area from Neolithic, Iberian, Greek, Roman and Visigoth times. The Moors called it "Alhaurín", and after the re-conquest the "El Grande" was added to distinguish it from its neighbouring Alhaurín de la Torre, meaning "The Garden of Allah", "The Hole" or "The Valley", although recent investigations would suggest also "The Free". Alhaurin el Grande was re-conquered by the Christian forces in May of 1485, when it was incorporated into the Castillian crown. Its Council was established in 1492, and in 1505 the parish church was built. Shortly afterwards the Royal Hospital of Santa Catalina was built, and in 1634, the people of the town purchased jurisdiction and the title "villa" from the crown, which included the Bourbon fleur-de-lis on the coat-of-arms. The history of the town in the 18th century is recorded in the land registry of the Marqués de la Ensenada, whose documents dating from 1751 are conserved in the Municipal Library. During the 19th century this was the place where the richer families of Malaga city had their leisure homes.

Places to be visited

Arco del Cobertizo The Arco del Cobertizo dates from Moorish times, and was the entrance to the commercial centre, possibly forming part of the town walls. The market place was nearby, where local produce was sold. Torre de Jubrique This was once a farm-house tower, whose main function was to alert the people of enemy approach, and it also served as a refuge for the population. It was built square with the beacon tower added on by the Christians in 1493. The tower, along with that of Ortegicar in Cañete la Real, is one of the two surviving examples of this type of architecture in the province of Malaga. Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación Built in the 17th century on the ruins of a Moorish mosque, it was re-built in 1863. The building is of three naves in the shape of the Latin cross, in whose apse the Virgen de Gracia - patron saint of the town - is kept.  Hermitage of San Sebastián This was a Moorish temple until the 15th century, when it was converted into a hermitage. In our time it is the seat of the Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, a brotherhood known as ³Los Moraos". Hermitage of the Santa Vera Cruz This was built in 1921 in the neo-Gothic style, over the ruins of an ancient hermitage destroyed during the War of Independence in 1808. It is currently the seat of the Real Venerable Cofradía del Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz, María Santísima de la Soledad and del Santo Sepulcro, "Los Verdes". Molino Morisco de los Corchos This one-time Morisco mill dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, and is one of the few examples of traditional water-powered mills in the province. It was used for the million of flour, but was also used between 1905 and 1941 to mill cork, used as an insulating material for the exportation of grapes. It is set in a green area that is well worth a visit.

Where to eat

Restaurante Los Candiles. Specialising in beef, Ávila chops, fish and seas-foods. Urb. El Cigarral. Tel: 952 594 679. Bar-Restaurante La Higuera. Specialising in peppers filled with sea-food bits, paella, lamb and products of the area. Ctra. de Coín, 27. Tel: 952 491 094. Bar Sardina. Large variety of tapas, such as 'tigres', 'indios', 'zuelas' and brochettes. Average price 9 euros. C/Real, 2. Tel: 952 490 014. Closed non Sundays during the summer. Restaurante Marisquería Casa Paco. Specialising in fish a la sal (cooked in salt) and pulpo a la gallega (octopus in the Galician style). Ctra. de Málaga, 79 Local 1. Tel: 952 490 626. Restaurante El Toro. Specialising in roast lamb. Ctra.Cártama-Coín, Km.7,5. Tel: 952 119 740. Restaurante El Balcón. Specialising in kid, rabbit, tartar fillets and tongue with mushrooms. Alh.El Grande-Mijas-Coín crossroads. Tel: 952 491 194. Restaurante Carolina. Specialising in cinnemon flavoured ostrich and Malaga wines, rolled tongue, salmon and prawns in sea-food sauce. Ctra. de Málaga, El Zángano, 17.  Tel: 952 490 467. Restaurante La Alegría. Specialising in fish and sea-food grills and grilled meats "La Alegría". Ctra. de Málaga, 69. Tel: 952 491 810. Restaurante El Postillón. Specialising in trout and smoked salmon. Ctra. de Mijas. Tel: 952 594 487. Restaurante La Ventanilla (H.Alhaurín Golf). Specialising in Fabada Asturiana, Burgos meats and Galician and Mediterranean fish. Ctra. Comarcal MA-426. Km.15.1. Tel: 952 595 800. Restaurante Brisamer. Specialising in roast lamb, pork steaks in Malaga wine and duck à l¹orange. Fuente del Perro, s/n.  Tel: 952 595 683. Restaurante El Mirador. Specialising in grilled meats, suckling pig and dorada a la sal (white fish baked in salt). Ctra. de Málaga-Alhaurín, Km.74.8.  Tel: 952 490 789. Restaurante La Peñita. Specialising in callos (pigs trotters and snouts with chickpeas) and chicken in sauce. Urb.La Peñita.  Tel: 952 595 646. Restaurante Finca La Mota. Specialising in Hindu cuisine. Partido de Hurique.Tel: 952 490 901. Venta Los Morenos. Specialising in paella, beef stew and pork in tomato sauce. Alhaurín-Mijas-Coín crossroads. Tel: 952 491 193. Venta Severino. Specialising in fried bread crumbs, suckling pig cooked in a stone oven, leg of lamb and snails. Ctra.Málaga-Alhaurín. Tel: 952 595 633. Pizzería-Burguer-Asador La Fogata. C/Casares, 24. Tel: 952 595 316. Museo Bar Costales. C/Cruz. Tel: 952 491 716. Finca La Fuente. Barranco Blanco, Alhaurín el Grande. Tel: 952 56 07 48. Pizzería Rialto. Ctra. Gerald Brenan 48, Alhaurín el Grande. Tel: 952 49 14 49. Pizzería L´Italia. Ctra. Cártama, edificio Cruz de la Misión. Tel: 952 49 17 84. Restaurante L´Amistad. Urb. La Paca, Alhaurín el Grande.Tel: 952 49 16 72. Restaurante HONG BIN LO. Ctra. Gerald Brenan, Alhaurín el Grande. Venta Los Chavos. Ctra. Coín, Alhaurín el Grande. Venta La Recta. Ctra. Málaga-Alhaurín km 74,5, Alhaurín el Grande. Tel: 952 49 07 98.

Where to sleep

Hotel Alhaurín Golf (4*). Ctra. Comarcal MA-426. Km.15.1. Tel: 952 595 800/952 596 049  Fax: 952 594 195.   Hotel Finca Brisamer. Fuente del Perro, s/n. Tel: 952 595 683. Fax: 952 594 195.   Hotel El Mirador. Ctra.Málaga-Alhaurín, Km.74.8. Tel: 952 490 789. Fax: 952 595 029.   Apart-Hotel La Palmera. Plaza de la Palmera, 4. Tel: 952 491 100. Fax: 952 594 375.   Tourist Apartments La Peñita. Urb.La Peñita. Tel: 952 490 994. Fax: 952 490 358.  Finca La Mota Country Inn. Partido de Hurique. Tel: 952 490 901. Fax: 952 594 120.  To reserve rural accommodation call 952 491 638/646 213 853 Rural Accommodation in the province of Malaga (in Spanish)

Arco del Cobertizo

FIESTAS
The festival season in Alhaurín el Grande begins in the month of February with the carnivals, although the most important event is the Holy Week celebration. This is one of the finest religious festivals in the province, and has been officially declared to be of Tourist Interest in Andalucía. During Holy Week in Alhaurín, the brotherhoods "Los Moraos" and "Los Verdes" act out the Passion of Christ and take part in street processions. Another traditional festival in the town is the Day of the Cruz de mayo -the May Cross- which takes place on May 3rd in honour of the Christ of the Santa Vera Cruz, during which the streets of the town are carpeted with aromatic herbs brought in from the surrounding countryside. At the end of May there is the May Feria, which includes many sporting, musical and recreational activities. On the eighth day after Corpus Christi Sunday there is the Day of Jesus, in honour of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth, with processions and mass. The festival of the town¹s patron saint, the Virgen de Gracia, takes place August 15th, and later on in October there is the "mulliores" festival. The origin of this dates from a group of devout people who used to set out at dawn to sing songs to the mysteries of the rosary. There are also many flamenco music and dance groups in the town.

GASTRONOMY
Alhaurín cuisine is rich and varied. Among the better-known dishes are gazpacho and various other local soups, gachas, fried bread crumbs and cachorreñas (a type of garlic soup). The bread from the area is excellent, and there are lots of local meat products, olive oil and honey. For dessert one can have many dishes made with flour, covering a full range of doughnuts, tarts, buns and pastries. Local craftwork is rich in embroidery, lace work and crochet work.

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