Almegíjar

Almegíjar nestles in the heart of Sierra Nevada Natural Park , on the south side, near the river Guadalfeo. Its architecture is mainly typical Alpujarran, with steep, narrow streets and houses with flat roofs of slate. Due to its geographical location, Almegíjar has remained a tranquil place where the passing of time was hardly noticed. It has an ideal temperature in summer, resulting in excellent crops of fruit, oil and almonds.

The region is in the form of an amphitheatre, in the middle of the Cerro de la Corona, this is best place to enjoy typical alpujarran sights and sounds, local architecture with traditional fireplaces, and was once in the Tajo de la Cruz.

Almegijar borders the municipalities of La Taha, Busquístar, Cástaras and Torvizcón.
Its history is closely linked with that of other towns and villages of the Alpujarras, a region which, by its geographical isolation, has always had its own distinct culture, which had its ‘glory days’ during the Arab Andalusian period, when all the Alpujarra was an important agricultural region, specializing in silk production.

After the conquest of Granada (1492) by the Catholic Monarchs, the population was gradually subjected to a pressure that eventually became intolerable, and in 1568 a wealthy landowner in the area, Hernando de Valor, who took the name of Aben Humeya, took up arms against Philip II, prompting a revolt among the Moors from the kingdom of Granada. Internal strife among the Moors themselves however, in 1569, led to the killing of Abén Humeya, which allowed Don Juan de Austria to deal swiftly with the uprising. The Moors were finally expelled in 1609, and the Alpujarras repopulated later by settlers from Galicia, León, Asturias and Castilla.

Monuments

Iglesia parroquial (Parish church) dating from 1651.

Gastronomy

Local recipe flavoursome stews (mainly in winter), hams, excellent sausages and other meat products from locally bred pork are the staple diet of Almegijar. There is an abundance of sweets and desserts of Moorish origin.

Directions

Leave Granada . At the roundabout, take exit 4 Continue along: E-902 / A-44 direction: Armilla - Motril. Pass near Armilla Dúrcal. Take N-323. Pass Velez de Benaudalla, turn left: A-346. Turn left: A-348. Pass near Los Tablones and follow signs to Almegíjar.

Distances