We are located in the Granada Province of Andalucia in Southern Spain - on the South facing side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in an area known as La Alpujarra. The region of mountain villages known as La Alpujarra is famous throughout Spain for its unique mini ecology.
The valleys south of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, with its highest peak (the Mulhacen), are made up of 80 or so white villages, 40 hamlets and countless cortijos (farmsteads) which comprise the nucleus of La Alpujarra. These valleys stretch down from the Sierra Nevada in the North to the coastal ranges of the Sierra de Lujar, the Sierra de Contraviesa, on to the Sierra de Gador in the East and run down towards the Mediterranean coastline in the South. The last stronghold of the Spanish Muslims, or Moors, La Alpujarra remains green all year due to the irrigation system, devised by the Moors, who terraced and irrigated the valleys cultivating semi-tropical fruits on the slopes of white-capped mountains. These unique villages have retained much of their traditional Berber architecture - clusters of white houses with flat grey roofs - still common in the Rif and Atlas mountains of Morocco. It is held by many that the most beautiful villages are those of Pampaneira, Bubion and Capilleira with their red peppers and tomatoes set out to dry in the sun whilst others believe the wine producing villages surrounding the Contraviesa are unequalled. Whichever zone becomes your favourite there is no doubt that La Alpujarra is indeed an area of unique natural beauty and tranquility.
Also, La Alpujarra in general is a paradise for hikers, trekkers and cyclists with many others just enjoying a paseito or evening stroll to observe the riotous assembly of wild flowers, attendant butterflies, grapes, figs, oranges and lemons.
To the West between La Alpujarra lies the rich fertile land surrounding the Valle Lecrin The Valle is cultivated with citrus, fruit and almond trees. The Lecrín Valley (‘The Vale of Happiness’ in Arabic) is situated at an equidistance between Granada and the coast, in the foothills of the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountains which are snow-capped for part of the year. The ski resorts are just 1 hour's drive away, yet it is only 30 minutes to the sandy beaches on the Costa Tropical! A large lake lies at the centre of the valley offering many pretty picnic areas and perhaps non motorised water sports in the future.
Andalucia with the Alpujarras highlighted
