Carataunas

Found in the heart of the Alpujarras, Carataunas is the smallest village in the region, both in population and as far as its size is concerned. It is, however, one of the most desirable places for peace and quiet. Its urban layout and architecture is clearly of the Alpujarras, houses with flat roofs of slate well adapted to the local terrain. From some points of the town and the surrounding area you can enjoy splendid views over the Alpujarras.
During the Arab era it was called Caratamuz.

The history of Carataunas has gone hand in hand with that of many other villages of the Alpujarras, a region which, by its geographical isolation, has always developed its own distinct culture, which had its “glory days” during the Arab Andalusian period, when all the Alpujarras 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. However, internal strife among the Moors themselves eventually led to the killing of Abén Humeya (1569), which allowed Juan de Austria to deal swiftly with the uprising.

 The Moors were expelled in 1609, and the Alpujarras were populated later with farmers from Galicia, León, Asturias and Castilla.

Monuments

Parish Church of San Marcos.

Gastronomy

Hams and sausages. Also a typical local recipe for fennel stew, the ingredients being - white beans, rice, bacon, pig's tail, potatoes and fennel.

Directions

Leave Granada . At the roundabout, take exit 4. Continue along: E-902 / A-44 direction: Armilla - Motril. Take the exit towards: Exit 164 - Béznar - A-348 - Lanjaron – La Alpujarra. At the roundabout, take exit 1 Continue: A-348 direction: A-348 - Lanjaron. Through Orgiva and Lanjaron, and continue on to Carataunas.

Distances