This lovely town is located in the Guadalhorce Valley, just below the ‘golden city triangle’ of Cordoba, Granada and Seville, and with over 14.000 inhabitants it is relatively large for a traditional Spanish village. As you would imagine for a traditional rural town, there are winding narrow cobbled streets lined with pretty whitewashed houses, that instantly take you back in time.
For a relatively small town, Alora sees a lot of tourists. It offers the perfect day out for history buffs, as it has the second oldest church in Spain and the Alora castle built by the Romans and adapted over the years by occupying forces. The castle has a fantastic viewing point providing incredible panoramic views across the Guadalhorce Valley and tapestry of the surrounding plains. There are also a couple of museums, the Bachiller and Ajibe Museum occupying an old mill and the Rafeael Leria Municipal Museum exhibiting Alora’s artistic heritage which is open to the public 7 days a week.
Yet there are plenty of modern facilities including a medical centre, cinema, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, a local sports complex and a large public swimming pool, making it great area for anyone looking to put down roots in the Spanish countryside. Needless to say, there is a high demand for inland Spanish property for sale in Alora.
Its also a favourite destination for rural tourism due to its close proximity to the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes natural park spanning 2016 hectares. The dramatic surroundings include the El Chorro gorge formed by the Guadalhorce River and 3km canyon, which is a popular spot for hiking, cycling and bungee jumping. Saving the most famous monument for last… there is Caminito del Rey pathway, a hair-raising walkway attached to the cliffside. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Alora’s main feria is held in the summer between July and August and there is another festival in September celebrating the Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Flores, plus the carnivals for Easter and Christmas… in fact like most towns in Spain. It is any excuse for a party!
Alora is 45 minutes from Malaga city centre and the international airport, and just 40 minutes’ drive from the Costa del Sol’s beaches.