Alfarnate

Area: 34 sq. kms
Number of inhabitants: Approx. 600
Descent: Alfarnateños
Monuments: Town Hall, Hermitage of the Virgen of Monsalud and the Church of Santa Ana
Geographical situation: In the extreme north west of the Axarquía, 50 kilometres from Malaga, at 925 metres above sea level
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza Constitución, 1. 29194. Phone: 952 759 028 Fax: 952 759 752

Alfarnate is situated in the centre of a small depression that bears its name, sheltered between the mountains in the extreme north west of the Axarquía region, 925 metres above sea level. The passes through the hills of the Puerto de los Alhazores, at 1,040 metres, are the natural boundaries to the area, this mountainous terrain contrasting sharply with the olive and almond groves of the lower ground. The urban area extends to the foot of the Pico del Chamizo, where the Palancar stream flows, dividing the town into two areas joined by three bridges. The town is dominated by the small Cerro del Santo Cristo mountain, which has a sanctuary on top of the same name, where mass is sometimes said out in the open. The buildings in the town are usually of two storeys, and most are whitewashed. Unlike most other urban areas in the Axarquía, there are few hills in the town. The most historic street is calle Secretaría, in which we find numerous 16th century houses, and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. It was in this square that bullfighting used to take place in days gone by during the September festival
The name of the town derives from the Arab Al-farnat, which means flour-mill, but the earliest remains date from pre-historic times, these having been found in the Palancar and Morales streams. The first written reference to Alfarnate dates from the 10th century, when mention was made of flour production, hence the name of the town. It was not until the Christian roops arrived here around the year 1487, however, that the town as we know it began to take shape, with Christian settlers coming here from other parts of the region. The late 19th century was a time of banditry in Andalucia, and Alfarnate was an important bandit centre due to its geographical location, on the road between Malaga and Granada


Outstanding visits
Hermitage of La Virgen de Monsalud
This is situated in the high area of the town, known as El Barrio. It dates from the 16th century and was built on pillars joined by semicircular arches
Town Hall
The Town Hall, dating from the 16th century, was built on a series of semicircular arches on the ground floor, with the sub-soil under the left wing room totally hollow
Church of Santa Ana
This is the most important building of the town, architecturally speaking. It was built in three naves separated by square pilars on semicircular arches, with a three-tier Mudejar tower, a central buttress and bell tower
Archeological sites
There are various places around Alfarnate where archeological sites can be found, such as the Palancar and Morales terraces, the Puerto de los Alazores - where there is evidence of a Neolithic work area - and the Cerro del Castillejo, where ceramic remains from Moorish times were found, along with fragments of Moorish walls
The Alfarnate Venta
The Alfanate Venta is just two kilometres from the town centre, and dates from 1690. Some researchers believe this to have been the original town centre, where travellers through the area used to stop and rest, and where horses were changed. Among the guests at this inn was King Alfonso XIII, the famous bandit Jose María "El Tempranillo" and Luis Candelas, who, according to local legend, robbed the royal mail here and was later arrested and held in the inn

FIESTAS
The town¹s main festival - in honour of its patron saint, the Virgin of Monsalud - is held at the beginning of September, during which there are four days and nights of festivities. The various events begin at midday on the Friday with sporting activities, and everybody converges on the El Ejido area. That night the King and his court are elected, with the Moors and Christians, known locally as The Embassies, performing. this tradition involves the seizing of the Virgin of Monsalud and ends when she is brought back to the Church of Santa Ana. More events take place on the Sunday, the highlight being a football match between married and single men. On the Monday there is a bicycle race and the election of Miss and Mister Simpáticos. The festival ends on the Tuesday with mass in the church of Nuestra Sra. de la Salud, and another procession of the Virgin at night. The festivities finally draw to a close when the fire crackers go off in the early hours of the morning
GASTRONOMY
The Alfarnate gastronomy consists mainly of pot stews, mushrooms and delicacies fried in bread crumb, this last item being cooked with a mushroom base in an onion and almond sauce with garlic, peppers and tomato puré. Well known too are the local doughnuts, the baked cakes and the aniseed and coffee liqueur. Another traditional dish is the so-called Eggs-for-a-Beast, this once served in the old Venta de Alfarnate and being a large helping of fried bread crumbs, eggs, peppers, sausages, meat. Before eating, one had to repeat a local saying that went like this: Whoever eats three helpings in a row will get their lunch free of charge