Detail of local
architecture |
Alpandeire is a small town situated in the Ronda
area, surrounded by great natural
beauty and with a very interesting history. The highest point is
the peak of Jarestepar,
1,421 metres high, from where one can see the entire
mountain range down towards Gibraltar. The municipality is irrigated
by numerous streams, the
main one being the Audalaza, commonly known locally
as the Arroyo Laza. Other streams include the Jandaque and the La
Fuente, and there are many
other areas of natural beauty such as El Pozancón,
Los Huertos and the Finca de Las Amarillas. As
far as the history of the town is concerned, the oldest documentation
available tells us of a
place called Pandeire in Moorish times. It was one of
the first fortification posts established by the Saracens after the
battle of Guadalete. All
evidence points to the urban centre having been founded
by the Moors, but some archaeological finds indicate human settlement
here in pre-historic times, right through the Iron and Bronze Ages.
Burial grounds have been discovered in the area known as the Encinas
Borrachas, Montero and the
Sepultura del Gigante. There have also been discovered
some ceramic remains and Roman constructions, such as these in
Basija and La Mimbre, that
show their presence here too. But the high point of
the town¹s past was in Moorish times, which lasted up to the 16th century
when Ronda fell into the
hands of the Christian forces in 1485. Since then Alpandeire
has been part of Realengo and the Ronda administrative district.
The Moriscos were expelled
from the area a century later. An order from King Felipe
II dating from February 6th, 1572, re-populated the regions of
Alpandeire and Pospitar
with 22 new residents, who were awarded lands and housing.
In 1815 Alpandeire obtained the title of Villazgo by Royal Privilege,
as an award by Fernando VII for its resistance during the French
occupation. The locals are
known by the nickname the "Panditos".
Places
to be visited
 |
Church
of San Antonio de Padua
Known as the "Cathedral of the Serranía", this church
is the most important historical
monument in the town. It was built in 1505, and restored in the
18th century, its structure remaining
unchanged since that time. There is an
ancient cemetery in the basement, and local legend has it that
bodies deposited there in the
past have appeared later embalmed and intact, despite the
passing of the years. In fact, there are two mummies in fairly
good condition in the crypt of
the church, believed to have been a married couple who
donated a large amount of money towards the building of the
church.
Environmental beauty at El Pozancón
There is evidence of a subterranean river in the area, because
when it rains heavily for some
days here, water gushes out of the ground, a phenomenon referred
to locally as the Alfaguaras. This happens in the south-east of
the town, at about 200 metres
from the nearest houses. But even more spectacular is
the waterfall of some 50 metres high about a kilometre from the
town, known as El Chorreón.
One can see this beautiful waterfall at its fullest following
rainfall, since the dry ground in the area quickly absorbs the
rain. In the streets of the town too
one can see water gushing up at various points,
the amount being directly related to the amount of rainfall at any
given time. These different streams
are known by name: "Erionda" is the first,
then further up we have the "Alfaguarillas del nudo,"
then the "Alfaguaras de
las casas grandes". Worth a visit too is the impressive Tajo
(Cliff) del Castillejo, which has cave
underneath it; the Cima de Parrado, about
100 metres deep and the Riscos y Cumbres (Cliffs and Peaks) of
Jarastepar.
Areas of historic and artistic interest
Alpandeire has other interesting buildings too, such as the
Antiguo Pósito in the centre
of the town, dating from the 17th century and currently used
as a cultural centre; the dolmens
known as "Encinas Borrachas" and "Montero"
and the monolith of Fernando VII.
There are also the buildings linked to the life
of Saint Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire, these being his birthplace,
the Villa Fría, and the statue
known as El Cerrejón.
|
| Where
to eat |
Bar Cava.
Situated beside the Plaza. Specialising in lamb.
Bar Juhisa. Situated close to
the church. Specialising in varied tapas.
Bar Hogar del Pensionista.
Part of the Town Hall building. Varied tapas.
Bar El Club. Modern music and
reasonable prices. |
| Where
to sleep |
Rural
houses. Casas del Pilar (6 beds), Casa Tinao (6 beds),
Casa Lobato (4 beds),
Casa del Alamo (4 beds), Casa de la Plaza (10 beds). For information,
tel: 952 870 739.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
|
Monument to Fray
Leopoldo de Alpandeire |
FIESTAS
The festival in honour of the patron saint, la Virgen del Rosario, takes
place on October 7th. One of
the most typical and traditional festivals in the town is the ³Festival
of the Niño del Huerto² (Child of the Garden), which takes place on
Easter Sunday, the organisers of which are elected in secret. On June 24th
there is the festival in honour of Fray Leopoldo, lasting a day only and
involving a number of organised activities. The middle of August sees the
festival in honour of the patron saint, San Roque, in which the image of
the saint is taken out in procession through the streets, and there is
speech making in the town square. It lasts a number of days.
GASTRONOMY
The speciality of the area is the desserts, especially the delicious
sponge
cakes of Alpandeire.
They come in all shapes, sizes and flavours, and are
known as roscos de leche, flores de miel,
gañotes, pestiños, suspiros and
borrachuelos, the translations of which would
be of little value to
visitors. One is also advised to try the
serbas, which are plums picked
green and eaten
after having been buried in straw for some time.
PERSONALITIES. FRAY
LEOPOLDO
Fray Leopoldo
was born in Alpandeire on June 24th, 1866. He left the town at
the age of 33 to become a
Capuchin monk in Granada, where he remained until his
death in 1956, having dedicated his entire life there to the Order. A
number of miracles have
been attributed to him, even in our own day, and his tomb
is visited regularly by believers in search of divine help. The process
of his beatification began
in 1961, and his sanctification came later. Frey
Leopoldo has a special place in the hearts of the people of Alpandeire,
as can be seen in the
conservation of his memory throughout the town: his birth-place,
situated in the centre; the Villa Fría, where he lived on the
road between Ronda and
Alpandeire, and the place known as El Cerrajón, where a
statue was raised in his honour.
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