Ardales

What to See in Ardales

In the upper part of the village, next to the medieval fortress, stands the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios church, the most important religious monument in the village. Its original masonry structure dates from the fifteenth century, but in 1720 the church was virtually rebuilt due to its deplorable state of preservation. Some features of the earlier building were preserved, however, such as the rib-worked coffered ceiling. Its interior is divided into three naves separated by thick columns, and the exterior is remarkable for its beautiful baroque façade that is attributed to the architect Diego Antonio Díaz, and for a square-based tower crowned by a spire of vivid glazed porcelain.

The Capuchin convent is located in the lower part of Ardales. Its construction dates from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the most interesting thing about the building is its church, whose exterior boasts a bell tower with several battlements. Near this site you can visit the La Encarnación chapel. It has a rectangular floor plan, barrel vault and eighteenth century decorative motifs.

The Mesas de Villaverde archaeological site, better known as the Ruinas de Bobastro, (Bobastro Ruins) is the place, according to a very widely held opinion, that an urban nucleus was founded in the ninth century that served as general headquarters for Umar ibn Hafsun during his confrontations with the Caliphate of Córdoba. This immense 60-hectare archaeological site is most remarkable for the Mozarabic cave church in which can be seen an unusual mixture of Christian and Caliphal construction features. The church was carved out of the rock and like any Christian temple has a basilica floor plan. It has three naves that are separated-and this is where the Caliphal style comes in-by horseshoe arches.

 

The Castillo de la Peña (La Peña castle) was built in the ninth century and remained under the control of Umar ibn Hafsun until the Caliphate of Córdoba conquered Bobastro. It can be seen that the construction consists of two walled compounds: the exterior one, which is of irregular outline due to the uneven terrain on which it was built, and the interior, where the quarters of the nobility must have been and which is built on a square plan, with a tower at each corner. At the present time nine towers are preserved from the two enclosures -although there were probably many more- as well as walls from the Nasrid and Christian eras. From this historic compound, which witnessed the most important events to ever occur in Ardales, you can view a very large part of the landscape around the village.

Only 3 kilometres from the village of Ardales are the ruins of the Turón castle, a fort on the frontier commissioned by Muhammad V in 1632. From this fortified site the Muslims defended themselves against Castilian troops invasions launched from the Teba castle. The fortress had two gates, more than ten towers, two walls and a keep from which traffic from and into the valley was controlled. Gómez de Ribera "El Adelantado" took it over from Muslim hands in 1433 and since the late fifteenth century, it has been in the municipality’s emblem.

In approximately the first century AD during the age of Augustus, the Romans built La Molina bridge over the River Turón. It is not a spectacular bridge in the style of others still standing in Spain, but it is of great interest because its solid construction has held up with scarcely any alteration since it was designed. It is also located in an extremely beautiful setting.

The Cueva de Doña Trinidad Grund (Doña Trinidad Grund Cave, or La Calinoria), also known simply as the Cueva de Ardales, is a huge natural cavity that was discovered in 1821. The tour of its interior is approximately one and a half kilometres long and on it you can observe lovely stalactite and stalagmite formations. Its most representative spots have been conventionally named as the Gran Sala (Great Hall), Sala del Lago (Lake Hall), Galería del Escorpión (Scorpion Gallery), Sala de las Manos (Hall of the Hands) and Galería de los Grabados (Engravings Gallery), depending on what each of these places suggests or what is actually in them.

The Gran Cierva (Great Roe) or Cierva de Ardales (Roe of Ardales), executed in black paint except for a red dot over the heart, stands out among the engravings and paintings. There are also representations of deer, goats and even fish, all from the Upper Palaeolithic age, that is to say, some from some 20,000 years ago. To visit the cavern it is necessary to make prior arrangements by calling (+34) 952 458 087.

Ardales

The Museo Municipal de la Historia y las Tradiciones (Municipal Museum of History and Tradition, Avenida de Málaga, 1; Telephone: (+34) 952 458 046) contains archaeological material on the origins of the urban centre of the village, as well as ethnographic material on historic life styles and features of daily life that have fallen into disuse.

For its part the Museo Municipal del Parque de Ardales (Ardales Park Municipal Museum, at the Conde del Guadalhorce reservoir, Telephone: (+34) 952 458 087; Fax: (+34) 952 458 169) displays samples of archaeological material (Neolithic ceramic and household items from the second millennium BC) and of the geological features and flora and fauna of the park. This museum’s personnel regulate hiking and trail walking activities and provide explanations of the geological and hydrological makeup of El Chorro, as well as organising visits to the Cueva de Doña Trinidad and to Bobastro.

has three museums that display a number of prehistoric relics found within its municipal limits and that also facilitate closer acquaintance with the long history of this village and with some of its peculiarities. The Museo Municipal de Ardales (Municipal Museum of Ardales, Plaza de la Constitución, 1) has a gallery offering interpretations of the Cueva de Doña Trinidad Grund and Palaeolithic art in general, using large panels with life-sized reproductions of the paintings in the cavern.

Ardales’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

The most important celebrations in Ardales begin on 15 May. This is the day of San Isidro, the patron saint of the locality who shares this status with the Virgen de Villaverde (Virgin of Villaverde), in whose honour the Feria Grande (Great Fair) is held the first week in September. The fiesta consists of a pilgrimage that is held at the River Guadalhorce reservoir, to where the Virgin is also carried. The Municipal Band accompanies the pilgrims, who, once they are set up next to the water, enjoy a day in the country with no shortage of music, dancing and good food.

The Feria de la Matanza (Slaughter Fair) is held in Ardales on the third Sunday of February. Almost 1,000 kilograms of pork products are given out for free on this festive day. Some 50 people serve tripe, chorizo, black pudding, and stews. At 5 in the afternoon, music and shows provide the entertainment for the party.

In late February, a leading dog show in Andalusia is staged in a 1,600-square-metre marquee. Almost 300 dogs from all the breeds and corners of Spain take part in trials and tests. Of course, this is combined with the joy of seeing beautiful dogs. Dogs compete in different classes: best of breed, puppy, best Spanish-bred, best in show.

 

The Ardales Flamenco Festival was first held more than thirty years ago, which means it is one of the oldest in the province. A leading festival, it takes place in September, prior to the Virgen de Villaverde festival.

Ardales’s Gastronomy

Typical Ardales gastronomy centres especially on a variety of stews in which kid and pork are basic ingredients. Ardaleños are also specialists in porras (soups), although of the local variety, it is true. Gazpacho is another of the most customary dishes in this region. Some of its confectionery that bears mentioning are delicious tortas de almendra and tortas de aceite (almond or olive oil cakes), roscos de vino (a spiral pastry with wine) and empanadillas con cabello de ángel (pies containing candied squash).

More Information About Ardales

Nature in Ardales

Ardales’s natural setting is indisputably one the of the most striking in Andalusia, at least from a geological standpoint, and ample proof of this is the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (Los Gaitanes Gorge) at El Chorro, which is shared with the municipality of Alora. This enormous vertical ravine, with a height of hundreds of metres, is a simply astounding natural spectacle.

The Caminito del Rey (King’s Little Road, in reference to the visit that Alfonso XIII made in 1921 to the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir) is a narrow iron and wooden walkway that goes along the side of one of the walls of the gorge at a height of 100 metres and allows almost a bird’s eye view of a unique geographic feature. At the present time it is being restored and is therefore closed to the public.

The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is a narrow canyon with upright walls reaching 700 metres in height. This geological formation spans over 3 kilometres and is only 10 metres wide at some sections. In the shallowest parts, the river eroded the rock widening the riverbed. Mountain birds such as Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, or golden eagle can be seen flying over the ravine.

The reservoir area is very close to the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. It is made up of the Conde de Guadalhorce, Guadalteba and Guadalhorce reservoirs. The first of these was built after the famous "riá" (flooding of the river) in 1909, which greatly damaged the city of Málaga and part of the province. This reservoir was intended to regulate changes in the level of the river and at the same time be a source of water for the city. The reservoirs of Guadalteba and Guadalhorce (from the 70’s) are more recent. The scenery resulting from the construction of the reservoirs is of great beauty, as the waters are also surrounded by dense pine forests.