This is one of the most unique regions in Spain. Situated between the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean Sea, its Northern boundaries are the highest mountains in the peninsula, the Veleta and the Mulhacén and to the South the almost coastal síerras of Lújar and La Contraviesa. Its heartland is the fertile valley drenched by the Guadalfeo, Adra and Andrax rivers. Vineyards, almond groves and fig trees, as well as cereals, vegetables and fruit orchards cover its lands. The system of growing these products is through the construction of terraces, and is based on an ingenious irrigation system that comes down from the ancient moslem inhabitants.
Lands rich in folklore, festivities and superstitions, that show us a lively and joyous indolent and proud people. Notable are its celebrations of Moors and Christians. Songs and dances are preserved in all their purity. The Trovo, the Taranto, the Alpujarran Fandango, the Robao, Music of the departed souls, constitute part of their cultural heritage.

Submerged in a remote and ancient time, the Alpujarra villages wish to be forgotten while they rest above the high mountains of evergreen colours. Thr whiteness of the houses from which you can behold the Mediterranean stands out against the blue sky, competing with the nearby snows in Sierra. The native architecture of this land follows the model of the stone houses built on one or two levels, with sturdy oak beams, flat slate and clay roofs, slate borders and distinctive chimneys. The houses all whitewashed, communicate with each other through the passages built above narrow streets.
Lanjarón, the most famous Spa town in Spain, is the great gateway to Alpujarra. Its streets form a throng due to the huge numbers of visitors who converge here to benefit from the mineral medicinal waters. Following the road, we arrive at Orgiva, the capital township of the region. Though still spreading over foothill lands, it possesses an air of aristocratic loftiness.

Before entering Orgiva, we find the road that will lead us up to the High Alpujarra. The first whitewashed and terraced villages appear. The Poqueira Gorge shelters the most typical and famous villages, which are Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira. We are in another world, all hurry has disappeared. In Capileira there is an interesting museum which shows the more classic of an Alpujarra house and which has the name of the writer Pedro Anyonio Alarcón.
The road that carries us towards Pitres and Pórtugos is a poem of light and colour. We must not forget to taste the sour water of the Fountain near Pórtugas , its waters fall in cascades and stain the area known as El Chorreón, full of exuberant green vegetation with a reddish hue.Trevélez is the highest town in altitude in Spain. From 1,500m. altitude we can enjoy a splendid panorama of the lands bathed by the river of the same name where lively trout swim. The descent to Juviles and Bérchules is beautiful. Very soon and among sunny orchards and numerous fruit groves, Yegen appears, and Válor with its white and narrow streets, inspiration of writers and artists. Laroles is the route to the cross-country skiing run of Puerto de la Ragua.

New and whitewashed villages spatter the perpetual green of La Contraviesa. To know this area we head for Ujíjar and after several kilometres of amazing lunar landscape we reach Murtas where the passion of the village will be bestowed upon us, the trovo, an old form of popular poetic song. From Murtas we can continue , descending to Albondón and Albuñol, and from there to the coast.

• Ex-Collegiate Our Lady St. Mary of the Incarnation, XVl-XVlll C. Once the main mosque, it was then transformed into a Catholic church. Alonso de Covarrubias was the architect, supervised by Diego de Siloé.
• Arab Baths in the Jewish quarters, dating from the Xth century or earlier.
• Regional Archaeological Museum Built in 1539-1590. Renaissance architecture. Inside it is an exact replica of the Lay of Baza, Iberian sculpture of the lVth century B.C.