Alcaucín

Area: 46 sq. kms
Number of inhabitants: 1,600
Monuments: Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Hermitage of Nuestro Señor del Calvario, Tajo de la Cueva (Cliff of the Cave)
Geographical situation: In the Axarquía, 20 kilometres from Vélez-Málaga and 54 from Malaga, at 508 metres above sea level
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza constitución,1 , 29711. Phone: 952 510 002 Fax: 952 510 076

The municipality of Alcaucín extends into the northern part of the Axarquía, between the Sierra de Tejeda and the flatter Periana area, between the spectacular Boquete de Zafarraya cliffs and the Axarquía mountains. The most direct road to the town is by the main road to Vélez. From this road we turn off onto the la Viñuela road and continue on until we reach Puente Don Manuel, an important cross-roads in the Axarquía, where we find the road that brings us directly to Alcaucín. As soon as we enter the town we can see the clear Morisco influence, with low houses, whitewashed facades and above all, the narrow, winding streets. Everything centres on the town square, the former Plaza de San Sebastian that has now been re-named the Plaza de la Constitución, where the church and the Town Hall building stands. Most of the old buildings and houses of the town date from the 17th and 18th centuries, when the palatial mansions on calle Arcos and calle Nueva were built, each with its coat of arms
The town¹s name is Arab in origin, deriving from Al Cautin, meaning The Arches. Some historians have suggested the reason for this being the existence of an aqueduct in the area, while others believe the name refers o the abundance of yew trees, the wood of which was used to make bows (arco translates as either arch or bow) for warfare and hunting. What is certain is that the area has been populated since pre-historic times, as is evident in the remains found in the Boquete de Zafarraya. It is also believed that the fortress of Zalia was built by the Phoenicians and later occupied by the Moors, falling the the Christians in 1485 when the castle was used as a prison for rebel Moriscos. It was besieged during the Napoleonic invasion in a later period. But the worst disaster that ever befell Alcaucín was the earthquake of the late 19th century that destroyed houses and changed the course of underground streams


Outstanding visits
Church of El Rosario and Hermitage of El Calvario
The church was built in the early part of the 18th century and inaugurated in April, 1732. Its basic shape is two naves supported by three semicircular arches, with a circular side chapel decorated in plaster in the rococo style. The hermitage in the cemetery, known as the Calvario, was founded in the 18th century and is square in shape with a semicircular arch doorway
Archeological remains
Among the more important items found is the jaw of a Neanderthal man, dating from 30,000 years ago. The Cueva de los Guaicos and the Abrigo Espino date from the Neolithic period, and the Cerro de la Negreta finds date from the Bronze Age
The Majadas Baths
The Majadas Baths, fed by sulphur waters and with excellent healing properties (especially for skin disorders), were used in Moorish times, and up to the beginning of the last century were still used in the months of July and August. They can be found at about five kilometres from the town
Sierra del Alcázar
The Sierra del Alcázar Nature Park is about five kilometres from the town centre, in the heart of the Sierra de Tejeda. The Environment Agency has developed the area for camping, with all relevant services. The surrounding landscape is dominated by the Alcázar stream, the vegetation on the bank being lush with lots of black poplars, oleander and heather. There is a pathway that leads upwards to the Tajo Fuerte, where one can observe how the vegetation changes, giving way to junipers, sanamundas and other higher-ground trees
 

Fiestas and gastronomy

Alcaucín celebrates its Las Candelarias festival in September, with bonfires by night drawing the entire town to the festivities. The Virgen del Rosario festival takes place a month later. On January 20th is the San Sebastián procession, this saint being the town¹s patron, and there is speech-making in the late evening. The carnival is very important in this town, featuring mainly the so-called Grupos de Judíos more appropriate to the Holy Week celebrations. The Romería de San Isidro Labrador takes place in the middle of May, along with a Cultural Week. The Flamenco Festival is held in the second week of August, and is one of the most popular in the area
 

GASTRONOMY
The most important culinary delights of Alcaucín are the cod tarts with honey, the gachas (flour-based garlic mix), the tropezones (small pieces of meat) and the pumpkins with sardines. There are also the home-made pastries and breads, olive oil based tarts and wine doughnuts. All this can be washed down by the excellent moscatel wine made from local grapes
 

THE LEGEND OF ZALIA
A local legend says that in the Mesa de Zalía there was once an ancient city which some authorities claim to have been the famous Odyscia, where the adventures of Ulysses took place while he was travelling these coastlines after the Trojan War. Some says that the nymph Calypso entertained the King of Itaca in this place. Another version claims that the city of Tagara was situated here too. A second legend, of Christian origin, says that Salia de Patricio, Bishop of Malaga, made his second visit to the town to convert the people of the area, failing to actually do so. It was night when he began his journey back to Malaga, and while he travelled the ground opened up and snakes came out to bite the people of Sália, as a punishment by the Lord. Not surprisingly, the town has been abandoned since that time