Guadalhorce
is full of some of the wildest scenery set in
an amphitheatre of mountain ranges with fertile
plains of orchards, olive groves and dotted
with typical white villages. The Camino del
Rey at the El Chorro gorge has to be the main
attraction, it threads the length of the gorge
hanging precipitously half way up its side.
Cártama
has existed since Phoenician and Roman times,
its boundaries stretch from the sierra Cártama
to the banks of the Rio Guadalhorce, with much
of the area being devoted to olives groves,
almonds, fruit and vegetables.
Coín
is an important pueblo in this area, dating
back to Roman times. It lies at the foot of
the sierras that make up the coastal range and
boasts several beautiful spots including the
forests of Alpujata.
Alozaina
is of Arabic origin with typically Andalucían
architecture, narrow streets and whitewashed
houses with magnificent floral displays; in
1977 it was voted the most beautiful pueblo
in Spain.
Ardales
lies between the Serranía de Ronda, the
Antequera Basin and the Guadalhorce Valley,
another Arabic village that languishing at the
foot of a rock bears its name.
Carratraca
has for many years been considered the gateway
to Guadalhorce valley. Although of Arabic origin
it was inhabited by the Romans who discovered
its sulphurous, curative waters and in the 19th
Century the Neoclassical spa was built which
is still popular today.
El Chorro
stands beside the Embalse de Guadalhorce (Guadalhorce
Reservoir) was built to provide accommodation
for the workers who built the dam. The Garganta
del Chorro (El Chorro Gorge) is an immense cleft
cut through the limestone by the Rio Guadalhorce
with walls of rock 400m high along its 3km length.
Álora
overlooks the Guadalhorce valley from the north;
the pueblo has steep narrow streets leading
to an old castle that is now, interestingly
used as a cemetery. The surrounding agricultural
land is utilised as vegetable gardens, citrus
trees and fruit orchards.
Pizarra
dates back to the Catholic Monarchs and is surrounded
by green fertile vegetable gardens, citrus and
fruit orchards
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