Introduction:

Cádiar is a town rich with beautiful scenery.  Nestled amidst the Sierra Nevada and the Contraviesa, Cádiar is located on the banks of the Guadalfeo River.  The GR-7 is the main route linking Greece with Western Andalusia, and it happens to pass right through the main portion of the Cádiar district (Cádiar, Narila, and Yátor.)  Cádiar is a small town considering the population barely tops 1,000 residents.  In essence, the town forms the centre of the Alpujarra region.  There is not a lot to do, but it is well travelled by those planning to go into outlying areas or into Greece.

History:

Centuries ago, Cádiar’s most famous resident was the main judge of the eastern region of Alpujarra.  The Arabic word “cadi” (the judge) helped form the root of the town’s name.  Five neighbourhoods formed the community that made up the town’s area.  Each neighbourhood contained different social classes, as is true in many cities. Much of Spain’s history revolves around the Catholic armies advancing on the towns in Andalusia and forcefully evicting the Moors (Arabs) from their homes.  The same is true of Cádiar.  During Felipe II’s reign, Aben-Xaguar helped lead the first revolution to reclaim their land.  Unfortunately, a conspiracy led to his failure.  Several other attempts would be made, but none were successful. When the final group of Moors fled the area, Cádiar faced a new troublesome issue.  Cádiar became a ghost town.  With no residents remaining, the Christians had to repopulate this and many other towns.  It would be decades before Cádiar began showing signs of growth. Today the population stands at a little over 1,000 residents.  Cádiar remains an extremely small town.

Site Seeing:

Hermitage of Santa Rita is a small chapel.  The chapel’s main feature is an artistic image of Santa Rita.  Hermitage of San Sebastián is a small, single-section chapel erected in honour of the patron saint of Yátor.  Hermitage of San Blas is a one-room, brick chapel erected in the 16th century with a stunning bell tower. Parochial Church of Santa Ana that was built in the 16th century.  The Renaissance-style church is famed for its Latin cross.  Parochial Church of the Conception was built in 1560.  The Mudejar style church features impressive arches in the mosaic bell tower. The Farmhouse of Moyrama is a traditional Andalusian farmhouse that is a popular town attraction.  The farmhouse was built in honour of Boabdil’s wife. Boabdil was the final Moorish king.  The farmhouse houses a museum, grand library, and impressive architectural details that should not be missed.

Industry:

The Barranco Oscuro Vineyard is located in Cádiar.  Here impressive red and white wines are created with tender care.  The winery brings plenty of revenue into the town through tours, sales, and exports. There is a small tourism base.   Cádiar offers the only petrol station in kilometers; so many tourists are forced to stop in the town for petrol.  This brings in a good amount of money into the local economy. Agriculture is Cádiar’s other important industry.  Fertile fields and a warm, sunny climate ensure that many crops thrive in the spring, summer, and fall months.  Grapes, tomatoes, asparagus, almonds, olives, and garlic are among the area’s crops.

Gastronomy:

Besides the wine that is handcrafted at Barranco Oscuro, Cádiar’s cuisine is based on local game, fresh vegetables, and homemade bread.  Freshly baked bread is an important part of every meal. Stews using partridge, rabbit, and a variety of meats (lamb, beef, pork) are common dinner items.  Lamb rubbed with garlic and then grilled over an open flame is an area specialty. Desserts usually include cakes, pastries, custards, and fresh fruit.  Almonds are plentiful and used to top or flavour cakes, pastries, and custards.

Nightlife:

Because it is a small town, there is very little to do when the sun sets.  You will find a couple of small bars, but there are no dance clubs/discos or boisterous concert hall type establishments. If you need something to do at night, it is suggested that you head to one of the area’s restaurants, have a nice dinner, and then end your evening with a cold beer or scrumptious glass of locally made wine at one of the neighbourhood bars.

Summary:

If you are travelling through Andalusia, odds are that you will find your way to Cádiar.  The town has the distinct honour of being the only town with a petrol station for many kilometers.  Out of sheer necessity, tourists find their way to Cádiar and then spend a few hours touring the town’s sites. With delightful restaurants and a world-class vineyard, Cádiar is a town often overlooked but deserving of a visit.  Experience the charm of this friendly town soon!

Useful Business Links for Cádiar:

Do you offer a service in this area?  If so, why not put a link here directly to your website.  Contact Ask Olive today.