Holiday apartment in Álora: Castillo Árabe, churches and trails

Álora’s Castillo Árabe was built by the Arabs in the Middle Ages and has Phoenician and Roman origins. The complex consists of two distinct fortified areas; the upper area has six square towers. A horseshoe arch leads into the walled area. The Castillo is located on Cerro de las Torres and offers views over the Valle del Guadalhorce.

Culture and history

The Museo Municipal Rafael Lería presents the history and archaeological heritage of Álora, from its earliest inhabitants to the present day. At the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, you will encounter Baroque architecture and several distinctive details: the large church has three naves, Tuscan columns, a Mudejar-style wooden ceiling and 18th-century frescoes depicting the twelve apostles.

The Convento Santuario de Flores developed between the 16th and 18th centuries from a hermitage into a Franciscan convent. The building includes a Camarín decorated with stucco work. At the same time, the Convento Santuario de Flores has been a place of veneration of the Virgen de Flores since 1502. The Ermita de Santa Brígida has served since the 16th century as a place of veneration of the Virgen de la Cabeza and preserves a wall fresco. The Ermita del Calvario also contains a sculpture of Nuestro Señor del Huerto created by Luis Álvarez Duarte.

The architectural complex of the Aljibe árabe in the historic town centre includes an old 16th-century olive mill. It is considered an important testimony to local industrial archaeology. A bronze sculpture created by Marino Amaya in 1974 honours the women who collected and processed citrus fruits in the orchards of the Vega del Guadalhorce. A monument created by Miguel García Navas addresses the origins of the flamenco style Malagueña Cunera in Álora and names the singers whom Álora has produced throughout its history.

Landscape and trails

The Mirador 360º viewpoint is located on the path that runs around Cerro de las Torres from the Castillo to Plaza de la Despedía. From there, a dynamic 360-degree view opens up across the valley. The route over Monte Hacho is an approximately 14-kilometre circular trail that starts and ends in the centre of Álora and takes around four hours. It leads through pine forests as well as varied geological and biological landscapes. Along the way, griffon vultures and ibex, among others, can be observed.

The official “Templos de leyenda” tour leads through Álora to churches, hermitages and sanctuaries. It brings both the development of the buildings and the town’s multicultural past to life.

The southern entrance to the Caminito del Rey is located near Álora, at El Chorro railway station in Álora. Shuttle buses connect it in both directions with the northern entrance near the Guadalhorce Reservoir in the Ardales area.

Accommodation in Álora

Also check which services are included, how the price is made up and which booking or cancellation conditions apply. The period relevant to you should also be clearly stated on the individual offer page before you make a booking.

Other destinations

Other destinations: Ardales, Genalguacil, Nerja, Periana, Gaucín, Villanueva De La Concepción, Arenas, Lagos.

To the higher-level travel overview: Málaga.