Sierra de las Nieves in the province of Malaga

2006-10-25T20:02:00.000+02:00

La Sierra de las Nieves is a natural paradise located in the central area of the province of Malaga, very near to la Costa del Sol. The towns Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istán, Monda, Ojén, Tolox y Yunquera, make a natural area in which men still have a perfect balance with the environment.

Almost the inhabitants of the area in la Sierra de las Nieves, just as their predecessors, live from the agriculture and cattle breeding. These activities are not very productive, because the orography of the land but, anyway, there are a lot of farms and the products of the area are high quality ones.

Mining was very busy in the area some time ago, as the many mines remains show. There were very important ones, as El Peñoncillo, in Ojen, busy till 20 years ago, or the Fuenfria, that provided with iron to the factories in Malaga. Nowadays only a few exploitations of marble and dry goods still running.

Respecting to industrial activities, only the textile industry coped the sector, because other industries that provided the region with work, like building and tourism, depended from la Costa del Sol, where they went every day to work.

Anyway in the last few years la Sierra de las Nieves has experimented an important and positive transformation. The stimulus on its natural, historical and cultural own resources, have allowed the creation of new working areas and a social-economical development. On this fact has been crucial the declaration as Natural Park and Reserve of the Biosphere of the whole area.

Rural tourism is nowadays a increasing activity, as well as the traditional industries as the handicraft or small agricultural productions. In the last few years a large net of services and accommodation for tourists, allow the visitors enjoy in the best way of the valuables natural, cultural and ethnological resources of la Sierra de las Nieves. Respect, empowering these resources, rational and sustainable exploitation are the main purposes followed by the inhabitants of this privileged area, who are proud of the fact that this is one of the Reserves of the Biosphere of the world.

La Sierra de las Nieves is very near to la Costa del Sol, at only a few kilometres from Marbella, and very near as well to Malaga and Ronda. So that, it is situated near these three cities, globally known. The visitor can enjoy a rural mountain area and one of the most famous coasts of Europe. The same way, the visitors of La Costa del Sol, can take pleasure in the natural and rustic living of the Sierra de las Nieves, just a few kilometres in the interior.

La Sierra de las Nieves is a natural museum, that rises abruptly and deep depths cross it. A life resort plenty with history and culture. The biological diversity of this Natural Park is the result of the privileged situation between the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In other times, the snowmen kept in deep pits, a frozen treasure, snow, to be delivered during the burning summer in the entire province. That is the origin of the name of the Sierra.

Malaga has in la Sierra de las Nieves its highest peak, the Torrecilla, with 1.919 metres; and the world has as web one of its deepest abysses, the GESM, with only 1.098 explored metres. Every corner is a little paradise, every gully a microcosms. But the most important fact, the genuine star is the Spanish fir, heritage from its Glacial Past when the climate was colder, and which have survived thank to the very special conditions of this area. There is as well a large amount of spices like pines, chestnuts, holm oaks and cork oaks, originating a wonderful forest with a high ecological and beautiful value. In these forests live wild cats, foxes, wild goats, and, over these peaks, eagles, vultures, falcons, and a wide range of singing birds.

In the nine towns that make La Sierra de las Nieves and its environment, located around the Natural Reserve, traditional artisan work and technological innovation, calmed handicraft in the patio of the house or vertiginous speed of the latter technology, live in complete harmony.

We have to say that any season is the good one to know la Sierra de las Nieves, because each season brings new colours to the country. In spring the sierra is full with flowers. In the summer, the running fresh water that rushes in a myriad of rivers, waterfalls and springs fulfil the region with the sounds of life. Once in autumn the cold appears as a prelude of the winter. The colour changes from the green to the yellow, and the ground is carpeted with countless leaves. In the winter, the highest peaks are covered with a white wrap of snow. A lot of people come to see this fantastic landscape.

Don’t doubt. Come to see la Sierra de las Nieves and let yourself be evolved with the magic of the Biosphere.

Inland Andalucia

2006-10-25T19:45:00.000+02:00

Inland Andalucia has many little whitewashed villages and towns that most visitors to Andalucia might never discover. Sadly many tourists stick to the costs, never venturing inland to the real Spain where the Spanish culture is in abundance and the language is Spanish, not English!

In this blog we are going to take a look at many of these unknown areas and villages. So keep coming back.