Beautiful Andalucia, spectacular mountains and enchanting cities
The market town of Orgiva lies at the heart of Andalucia and the wonderful holiday cottages of Los Piedaos are just up the road, hidden among rolling olive groves with 360 degree views of the spectacular mountains that surround this valley of the Alpujarras. Andalucia, a fascinating region of vast mountain ranges and enchanting cities stretches from Portugal in the east to the southwest corner of Mediterranean Spain. Andalucia means "the land of moving light". With its sandy beaches, beautiful countryside and fabulous monuments, this is the perfect holiday destination. The home of flamenco, best enjoyed at the region's countless Ferias and Romerias where you can experience the high-spirited Andaluz people at their best. They know how to live life to the full, and they are famous for their exuberance, warmth and hospitality. Half way between Granada and the Costa Tropical on the Mediterranean lies the beautiful valley of Las Alpujarras. The Alpujarra valley is a perfect place in which to forget about the cares of the world, and, if you feel energetic, to indulge in a great variety of activities, from bird-watching to para-gliding. If you went to see only one place during your stay here, it has to be the magical Alhambra Palace in Granada, only 40 minutes from Los Piedaos. 
"gate way" to this enchanting valley. |
As well as its excellent Thursday market, Orgiva has most of the facilities that you might need, including small supermarkets, shops, many bars, restaurants, a discothèque, garages, post office, an Internet café, dentists and a health clinic. At the bottom of this page you will find an extract from our friend Arpi Shively’s blog “andalucid“ that tells of the things she loves about Orgiva
Orgiva, seen below with its backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is a few minutes drive from Los Piedaos.
Below that is a collection of "snap shots" taken in and around the town.
Probably the most striking features of this enchanting region are the reminders of its Moorish past. The towns of Cordoba, Seville and Granada had some of the most sophisticated civilisations of the Middle Ages.
Each of these regional capitals of Andalucia boasts spectacular remains of their monuments, and can be visited from Los Piedaos. But undoubtedly the most unforgettable of these is Granada's Alhambra palace, just up the road from Los Piedaos.
In order to avoid damage to the unique and delicate micro-climate of the Sierra Nevada, it is not possible to take your own car onto the road marked blue and red on the map. But you can go on a special bus to the top of the blue sector, and from that point it is possible to walk to the highest point in Iberia, Mulhacen, at 3,366 meters (over 11,000 feet) if the snows allow!
All the year round, trips start from the car park in Pampaneira at 8am every Thursday, and more often in the high season. You can book by phoning Nevadensis (whose office is near the car park) on +(34) 958-763-127. The cost is 35 Euros, which includes a picnic lunch.
Salobreña, a short drive from Los Piedaos, is one of the most charming villages in Andalucia, and it has excellent beaches and many beach bars and restaurants.
It continues to remain very Spanish, with centuries of history, an interesting museum, true Spanish culture and of course, lovely weather. The white-washed houses climb up a dazzling hill crowned by an ancient castle, which overlooks the lush sugarcane plantations and blue sea.
| An extract from Arpi Shively’s blog “andalucid“ that tells of a few things she loves about Orgiva. Café Galindo's terrace on a mild spring or autumn morning. Who's sipping their café con leche under the big green canopy today? I might stop to sip and read the latest hair-raising issue of The Olive Press. And to buy one of Galindo's serious, substantial loaves of wholemeal, oatmeal, five grain or sunflower-seed bread. Camac Wholefood Store. To me, Camac is the perfect 'village store' run by the perfect proprietors. 'Organic, international, wholefood and soulfood' is how they describe the contents of their pleasant shop. I love exchanging weather news and local gossip with Steve and Audrey while buying the all important chocolate peanuts and raisins, Steve's yummy homemade jams and pickles, emerald basil and coriander nodding happily in their pots, Indian and Thai ingredients to transform local chicken or veg...I sometimes go in even when I don't want anything. Camac is part of the Orgiva experience.Alporgcafe1 Baraka Perched just above the Plaza Alpujarra, serving wonderful drippy chicken or falafel shawarma wraps and blended carrot/apple/orange juice, with a thoughtfully-supplied shower in the women's loos so you can clean up afterwards (semi-joke). And just a waddle away is.... Café Willendorf. Excellent coffee in tall thin mugs, squishy sofas (if you get there first), palatial loos. Dire food but never mind, because for great food there's... Brekkies at Cafe Libertad Sally and her team of smiling maidens have ditched the original, rather clinical décor and given the room a lightly girly makeover. No pink ostrich feathers, but soft seating in jewel-coloured velvet now surrounds a big low table at the back, with warm brown cane seating around tables draped with softly shaded cloths. And the menu - brunchy, lunchy, crunchy, a great balance of healthy and self-indulgent savoury and sweet things. Fred took a photo of me trying to look dignified as I plunge into the All Day Breakfast Tart, light pastry around a wobbly egg custard filled with bacon, sausage and tomato. There's a veggie version too. Unless you are very hungry, get one to share! Art shows put together at two days' notice. "They told me the space (the old ayuntamiento, town hall, next to the Plaza) was available. I told them I didn't have anything to show just now. Next day, they printed a poster announcing the exhibition," says a slightly bemused but happy Jayne Morley. She worked early and late to put up the show, also featuring wildlife photographer Gig Binder, and Fred (Shively). Jayne, a theatre actress turned photographer, is busy putting together aRThOUSe Orgiva, a range of courses in photography, filmmaking, theatre, dance, music, writing, and voice. (Website under construction). I love that in Orgiva, you don't have to be rich or connected to some stuffy European establishment to get things like this started. Good luck Jayne and I hope to report on aRThOUSe's first season soon. Christmas shopping at Nomadas. If you haven't been into the sunny mini-emporium above Bar Cañada (opposite Dia supermarket) lately, it's been transformed. Maria has done away with a lot of the ethnic fabrics, soft furnishings and clothes, replacing them with gifts, decorations and household stuff. I am going there to do some Christmas shopping next week - the products and prices are a joy, and they wrap your gifts in bright pink Nomadas paper stamped with gold. The little piper. Bright-eyed and wild-haired as a Portuguese water dog, this elfin street performer almost lives on the high kerb opposite Galindo's, in the shade of the yellow pillarbox. Her unpunctuated piping is one of the characteristic sounds of Orgiva. When she is not there, I step around her space. |
You will find a mine of information about the region at Andalucia.com and in Andalucia's official website, and a newspaper of the region Sur in English.
There is another English language newspaper, published in Orgiva, The Olive Press, a newspaper for Andalucia. It covers Granada, Malaga, Almeria, Cordoba, La Alpujarra, inland Andalucia, Costa del Sol and the Costa Tropical. Featuring local and national news from around Spain, usually scandalous or darker goings on! . It also has a website.
If you would like to learn more about Spain,
its history,culture and politics, click here.
