Do you know where the Alozaina heritage route? This small town is one of the most visited. There you will find several restaurants and bars where you can rest. Why not enjoy a good weekend in this typical town? If you are looking for a good destination to enjoy, you came to the right place.
The Alozaina heritage route It takes place over 3 days, which are: November 3, 4 and 5. It has workshops and creative spaces open to the public and has a map on the Municipal Culture Classroom which is next to the Tourist Office. This town is also known as “Little Castle” and is one of the more privileged by 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. And it has the following heritage routes:
1.The Albar Fountain
We find one of the most privileged environments. The Fuente del Albar is located on Calzada Street, at the exit of the town's urban area. This source has supplied the area for decades. This is due to a medieval Arab construction that provides hydraulic infrastructure.
It has an aqueduct made of stone, linked to the town. In its origins 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, since it was rebuilt in the middle of the 20th century.
This archaeological complex of extraordinary importance was excavated in the rock. It is made of stone, brick and lime and has been topped with a triangular pediment tip on which there is a cross. Its flow is very low. However, it has two pipes that are used to water the town's livestock.
2.Church of Saint Anne
If you are looking for something else to see in this small town, the Church of Santa Ana is a good option. The highlight of it is its mountain landscape, 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 owner.
The temple dates back to the 18th century, and parts of the previous building were used to build it. 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 notable festivals are the patron saint celebrations, which are celebrated on July 25 and 26. It also has multiple sacraments and associations.
It has restored fresco paintings dating from the 17th century. Its main entrance stands out for a main brick façade with inscriptions on tiles that remember the conquest of the population. It has a Latin cross plan with a small gallery on a lowered arch. In the cross arms there are two chapels that open two separate dressing rooms.
The building reveals an imposing silhouette on its exterior. Since it is made of masonry adorned with semicircular arches. This magnificent construction defies the inertia of the laws of gravity. It is seen perched on top of a rock, showing a harmonious fusion of the temple in its entire surroundings. Would you like to visit a flying church among clouds?
In the Alozaina heritage route We also have the Municipal Laundry. It is located on Calzada Street, a street that goes down from the town to the bed of the Pesadilla River. It is next to the Albar fountain to supply it with water. It dates back to 1949 and was built to facilitate the town's residents' daily tasks in the nearby streams of the Albar.
It has 12 basins and was used until the 70s. Its appearance is the product of renovations carried out with careful polishing that beautifies and maintains the heritage of the site. Despite having undergone some modifications, it still retains all its ancient charm and beauty.
The first time it was mentioned was in the Nasrid era and it is located at the foot of the Santa Ana Church. It was part of the medieval castle and was transformed in the 20th century into a viewpoint with an open plaza with gardens where events are held. Contemplate an endless and wide landscape, marking a good part of the Guadalhorce Valley and the beginning of the Sierra de las Nieves.
With the purpose of rebuilding 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 imagine how the ancestors might have felt when walking along the walls.
The story goes that in the year 1570 a troop of 600 led men began a march with the intention of assaulting the town. With squads of 8 ranks they attacked 80 residents, who took their weapons and went up to the castle to defend it.
In the confrontation there were deaths and injuries, among those injured was María Sagredo's father. Which, upon seeing the situation, climbed to the top of a tower to bravely defend. When the assailants were at the foot of the tower, he defended the town by throwing bee hives into which the besiegers fled. That's where the name of said structure comes from.
This is the main vestige of the old castle and is a few meters from the Parish Church. It is integrated with the current homes of the town, protrudes from the walls and has a conical shape with large carved stone blocks.
The Alozaina heritage route It has great historical significance for the population. The structure of each of its historical buildings is inherited from a Muslim origin. With shiny facades, steep streets and hidden corners. Each of its sites with features from the medieval period are worth visiting and admiring.