Introduction:

Tucked between the Contraviesa Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, Albuñol draws in tourists seeking a bit of everything without the bustle of a larger city.  The population of around 6,000 residents allows Albuñol to contain a good mix of restaurants and bars, but the streets are not heavily congested with traffic. Albuñol, often called The Route to the Alpujarra, is perfect for a week’s worth of rest and relaxation.  Those seeking a charming, peaceful Spanish town will be delighted.

History:

In 1858, the Cave of the Bats was discovered.  A local mining company found the cave while digging lead mines.  While the townspeople believed the city dated back to the Moors, this new discovery offered proof of existence in the Neolithic age. Albuñol was once part of the Alpujarras when the Moors divided the area into twelve districts.  The town’s prime location matching sea and mountains provided an outstanding climate for vineyards.  In the 16th century, the Moors lost control and Catholic royalty now governed the profitable area. It is under this new reign that Albuñol received its final name.  As the Moors found themselves evicted from the town, Albuñol’s population plummeted.  It took a number of decades to rebuild the population base.  As the number of residents grew, the town continued to thrive as an agricultural centre with a prime location for also adding fishing to the mix.  This made it an excellent stop on the trade routes, as well as being a great town in which to live.

Site Seeing:

One of the area’s biggest attractions is the Cave of the Bats, located in the mountains.  It is here that bones and the remains of Neolithic clothing were discovered.  A step footpath, called the Route of Narrownesses, leads visitors to the cave system and the surrounding Necropolis. The labyrinth of narrow streets in Albuñol is lined with many historical houses that are all important to the area’s culture.  The House of Daisies is the former residence of writer Pedro Antonio de Alacón.   The Daughters of Christ Rey founder, Isabel Rodriguez, resided in the neighbouring house.  At the Native House of Natalio Rivas, many national politicians have made their mark on the house’s interior and exterior design. Built in the 12th century, Nasrid Castle is an outstanding site.  Period details create amazing architectural portraits of the Moors’ inhabitance of the area.  The tower served as a monastery during the earlier centuries. The Parochial Church of San Patricio dates back to the early 1600s.  In the early 1800s, the church received major renovations.  The architecture still provides a pleasing view into the town’s architectural history.  Be sure to visit the twelve altars and the impressive vault. The Rock San Patricio is located on the former Beach of Melicena.  Many years ago an Irish ship sank and an image of a saint washed ashore.  That image turned out to be San Patricio.  A pattern of rocks was established to pay tribute to both the Irish ship and the image. Every March, the Celebration of San Patricio begins with a lavish parade that turns into a daylong festival of singing, dancing, and food.  A month later, the Celebration of San Marcos occurs.  The Celebration of San Marcos honors cattle and the saint that watches over them.  The daylong celebration features many regional dishes that use the local beef. In June, Albuñol celebrates San Pedro.  During these two days, area children who are of age are christened and attend their first communion.  This is followed by many street festivities. During the first weekend of August, the Fair of Summer begins.  This two-day event offers many food vendors, dancing, parades, and other attractions.  October begins with a festival celebrating the area’s vineyards.  Wine and tapas samplings can be found throughout the city.  This event highlights the fine area cuisine. The Fair of the Cattle occurs from October 30th to November 1st.  The fair begins with cattle auctions and proceeds into a thrilling country fair with craft vendors, food tables, concerts, and more.

Industry:

The major portion of Albuñol’s industry revolves around three agricultural crops:  grapes, almonds, and figs.  Many area vineyards produce ample amounts of wine and sherry that are sold both locally and throughout Europe.  Almonds also grow well in the area providing plenty of revenue.  Figs are the third largest crop thanks to the warm climate.

Gastronomy:

An abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and beef shape the cuisine of Albuñol.  The area’s famed dish is the garlicky blood pudding and chorizo sausage.  These two items are produced locally and served in many homes and restaurants. One of the area’s best-known dishes is Choto al Ajillo, a stewed dish using beef (calf), garlic, onions, black pepper, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, olive oil, and bread.  For dessert, you can serve fried milk that is most similar to fried slices of very thick custard. The area vineyards are known for their Costa wines, full-flavoured varieties with high alcohol contents.  Wines are served in every bar and restaurant in the area and must be sampled!

Nightlife:

A small number of area bars will provide excellent drinks and delicious tapas to patrons. Many residents only speak Spanish, so make sure you know basic phrases or have a Spanish/English dictionary on hand.

Summary:

Let’s face it.  Many of us are tired of the hustle and bustle of living in or near the busy cities.  As populations grow, there is more desire to find a vacation destination that provides a warm, peaceful hide away.  Albuñol is the perfect spot for sitting back, enjoying the salty air, and forgetting all the troubles awaiting you at home.  Head to Albuñol and clear your mind.

Useful Business Links for Albuñol:

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