• The white village of Alora is one of the most ancient towns in the province. Steep, narrow streets, some lined with lemon trees lead you through the old Arab part of the town but the town has grown a lot since then and modern apartments and houses mingle with the old Andalucian village houses. A huge variety of shops, banks, bars and restaurants, together with a major supermarket and health centre make the town very self-contained. However, with the excellent rail link (35 mins to Malaga) and almost hourly buses to the capital you can be on the beach, the airport or in the shops of the coast in less than an hour.

• The outstanding historical monument of Alora is the Arab Castle which can be seen from miles away and dominates the town. There are two town squares, the upper square has the Town Council building dominating it and is now a pedestrian area with 2 fountains. The original Lion Fountain is now to be at the roundabout on the north side.

• The lower square, where a lot of festivities and the famous Easter Week ceremonies take place, (La Despedia) has one of the largest parish churches in Andalucia. It took over 100 years to build, was designed by the same architect as Malaga Cathedral and built by inmates of the local prisons. Alora was one of the last strongholds of the 800 year Arab occupation and there is also a site, near the old monastery, to the north of the town, where the official handing over of the keys took place once the Arabs were defeated by the army of Ferdinand and Isabella.

• At 194 metres above sea level a lot of properties in Alora have a commanding view of the Guadalhorce Valley. The acres of orange and lemon trees provide an unexpected greenness against the stark surrounding mountains, the pace of life is much slower than the coast and you still see men riding their donkeys and ploughing their fields with horses. Also known as the Valle del Sol (Valley of the Sun) because of the 300 days of sunshine per year, it is a beautiful and unspoiled area of Andalucia.

• The National Park of El Chorro and the famous Lakes are a mere 20 minute drive away and a 10 minute walk from the centre of town will take you into the countryside where many of the olive groves are not fenced and you can walk for miles. Because of the excellent public transport links you can live in Alora without a car but be aware, a lot of the streets are inclined. Despite a large number of English living in and around Alora the town is still truly Spanish. Being able to speak the basics for bars and shops is helpful although there are several English owned bars and an English speaking group that organises excursions etc. for members. the locals are very helpful and friendly.

• The main festivals in Alora include:

• The Verdiales - 1st May
Held at the famous 3 nave church at Las Cruces (a meeting point of the 3 parishes of Alora, Pizarra and Cartama), many villages provide groups to take part in this colourful dance festival. With each group performing at least once, in a huge marquee that also has bars that serve food, this is a wonderful way to celebrate the coming of spring.

• Festival of Flamenco - June
This singing festival takes place around the middle of June with singers from all over Andalucia taking part, both amateur and professional. Alora lays claim to the invention of a particular form of Flamenco and there is a fountain that commemorates this at the western entrance to the town.

• Feria - end of July/beginning of August - Wed - Sunday
With stalls lining the streets, concerts, theatre and other events taking place throughout the town, the upper square is full of bars with a stage for singing, dancng and music as well as a sprinkler system to keep dancers cool during the disco which goes on until the early hours of the morning, no-one gets a lot of sleep during feria. A fairground completes the evening entertainment while during the day there are such competitions as gig driving while singing. A truly unique event that needs to be visited at least once.

• Romeria - first Sunday after 8th September
The Patron Saint of alora is brought from her normal home at the Virgin de Flores Church down to the parish church in the bottom square where special masses are said for nine days. On the 8th of September she is paraded around the town and, on the first Sunday after the 8th, she is taken back to her usual resting place on a decorated cart drawn by two decorated oxen and accompanied by many riders and walkers all in traditional costume. Visitors are invited to take part in the slow procession up to the church where, on the adjoining grounds there are stalls, bars selling food, music and dancing. Many people take a picnic and you will see many generations of one family under a tree enjoying the day.

• Dia de Sopa Perote (Alora Soup Day) - first Saturday in October
This takes place in the lower square with hundreds of litres of soup being given away to locals and visitors. It has become so famous now that they have to run a park and ride. The soup was invented in Alora and consists of a stock made by frying onions, garlic, peppers and other root vegetables, adding water to make a good stock then pouring over crumbled bread. It is traditionally served with chopped fruit and vegetables, oranges, onions, cucumber but especially chumbas (prickly pears which you see growing by the roadside all around Alora). Originally devised by the fruit pickers for the mid-day meal when their bread had dried out in the heat of the sun it was quickly adopted by the town and is now served in some restaurants in Alora.

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Author - 1Casa Estate Agency are the longest established agents in Alora & are situated in C/Cantarranas 1, Alora