Heritage Route
Do you know where the heritage route of Alozaina?This small village is one of the most visited. You will find several restaurants and bars where you can relax, so why not enjoy a nice weekend in this typical village? If you are looking for a good destination to enjoy yourself, you’ve come to the right place.
The heritage route of Alozaina takes place over 3 days: 3, 4 and 5 November. It has workshops and creative spaces open to the public and has a map in the Municipal Cultural Centre which is next to the Tourist Office. This town is also known as the “Little Castle” and is one of the most important more privileged because of their natural environment.
The “Little Castle” is located between the Serranía de Ronda and the Guadalhorce Valley. It is a small municipality in the northwest of the province of Malaga. It has the following heritage routes:
1.The Albar Fountain
We find ourselves in one of the most privileged surroundings. The Fuente del Albar fountain is located in Calzada street, at the exit of the town centre. This fountain has supplied the area for decades. This is due to an Arab construction from medieval times that provides a hydraulic infrastructure.
It has an aqueduct made of stone, linked to the village. Originally it was made to supply water to the castle (currently the Parish Church of Santa Ana) and the Villa de Alozaina. It has a different appearance, as it was rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century.
This extraordinarily important archaeological complex was excavated in the rock. It is made of stone, brick and lime and is topped with a triangular pediment with a cross on it. Its flow is very low. However, it has two spouts that are used to water the village’s livestock.
2. Church of Santa Ana
If you are looking for something else to see in this small village, the Church of Santa Ana is a good option. The highlight of the church is its mountain scenery, with its imposing octagonal tower. The parish church is located in the Sierra de las Nieves and was founded in 1489, from 1494 there are records of Santa Ana as the patron saint.
The church dates back to the 18th century and parts of the previous building were used for its construction. The work was carried out by the master architect Felipe Pérez between 1770 and 1774. To this day it maintains its baroque style. One of the most important festivities is the patron saint’s day, which is held on 25th and 26th July. It also has multiple sacraments and associations.
It has restored fresco paintings dating from the 17th century. Its main entrance is highlighted by a brick main façade with tile inscriptions recalling the conquest of the town. It has a Latin cross plan with a small tribune over a lowered arch. In the crossing arms are two chapels that open onto two dressing rooms.
The building has an imposing silhouette on the outside. It is made of masonry adorned with semicircular arches. This magnificent construction defies the inertia of the laws of gravity. It is perched on the top of a rocky outcrop, showing a harmonious fusion of the temple with its surroundings.Would you like to visit a flying church in the clouds?
On the heritage route of Alozaina We also have the Municipal Washing Place. It is located in Calle de la Calzada, a street that goes down from the village to the bed of the River Pesadilla. It is next to the Albar fountain to supply it with water. It dates back to 1949 and was built to help the villagers with their daily chores in the nearby streams of the Albar.
It has 12 basins and was used until the 1970s. Its appearance is the result of careful polishing and renovations that embellish and maintain the heritage of the site. Despite having undergone some modifications, it still retains all its ancient charm and beauty.
It was first mentioned in the Nasrid period and is situated at the foot of the Santa Ana Church. It formed part of the medieval castle and was transformed in the 20th century into a lookout point with an open square and gardens where events are held. It overlooks an endless and wide landscape, pointing out a good part of the Guadalhorce Valley and the beginning of the Sierra de las Nieves.
With the purpose of reconstructing the old fortress, it was built as a walled enclosure, with a stage, concrete bar, towers and battlements. Although it does not correspond to the original construction, it helps you to imagine how the ancestors might have felt when walking along the ramparts.
The story goes that in the year 1570 a troop of 600 men under the command of a leader set out on a march with the intention of attacking the town. With squadrons of eight ranks they attacked 80 villagers, who took up arms and climbed up to the castle to defend it.
In the confrontation there were dead and wounded, among the wounded was the father of María Sagredo. When she saw the situation, she bravely climbed to the top of a tower to defend the castle. When the assailants were at the foot of the tower, she defended the town by throwing hives of bees at the besiegers, who fled. This is the origin of the name of this structure.
This is the main vestige of the old castle and is just a few metres from the parish church. It is integrated with the current dwellings in the town, juts out from the walls and has a conical shape with large blocks of carved stone.
The heritage route of Alozaina has great historical significance for the population. The structure of each of its historic buildings is inherited from a Muslim origin. With gleaming facades, sloping streets and hidden corners. Each of its sites with medieval features are worth visiting and admiring.