Alora, Andalucia, Spain

Alora is a small market town with a population of around 15000 situated at the top of the Guadalhorce valley, approximately 40kms from Malaga. Good roads connect Alora with Malaga, and the local train runs frequent and fast air conditioned trains into Malaga city centre where you can get connections along the coastal train route to Torremolinos, Malaga airport, Benalmadena and Fuengirola. The popular coastal area of Marbella is 62 kilometers away along the scenic mountain road.

The main part of the town is on top of a hill, with the church and cemetery at the very top. The cemetery gained a reputation as an impregnable fortress during the Moorish occupation following various failed sieges by the Christians over the centuries, and was the subject of the Ballad of Alora, the words of which are carved on a tablet embedded in the cemetery walls, which refers to the town as the well besieged. It was finally conquered by Christian troops in 1484 after nine days of combat. The cemetery gives wonderful views back down the valley, and is a place of genuine peace. In addition, the whole town is surrounded by spectacular views in all directions.

The other most emblematic building in Alora is the Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion Parish Church in the Plaza Baja de la Despedía. It took nearly 100 years to build the church, which is one of the biggest in the province; construction began in 1600 and was not completed until 1699.
The railway station is down in the valley, by the river. Along the sides of the valley are many farmhouses

Around 14 kilometres north of the town are the lakes at El Chorro and the Embalsas de Guadalhorce, which are massive man made reservoirs, easily visible as you approach Malaga by air. This is a National Park setting, and there is plenty of opportunity for camping and barbecues, but mostly, you will marvel at the landscape, particularly in winter in spring. The area makes an ideal winter and spring holiday destination. You will be amazed by the beauty and tranquility of the area, especially if you visit during weekdays. Your perception of the Costa del Sol will be very different after vising this area. If the gorge looks familiar, you may remember the railway sequence from the famous film Von Ryans Express that was shot there.

Also popular are outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, rafting, artistic holidays and photography. The area is perhaps best known for the opportunities it provided for rock-climbing with over 500 routes. The mountains of Vale de Abdalajis - roughly 16km are known amongst paragliding fraternity as one of the best areas in Europe for this sport during the winter season.
To the east of the Guadalhorce, the landscape has smooth froms with small hills covered with some olive trees and remains of the old holm-oak grove; it is the landscape of the natural corridor which crosses the province from Periana to Alora and separates the Antequera range from the Malaga mountains. These mountains also reach Alora in the western half of the territory, with its characteristic maze of hills, mainly covered in olives, almonds, and thickets.