Valle de Abdalajís

What to See in Valle de Abdalajís

The upper district of the village, the oldest part, still has a street plan reminiscent of the Arabic period. Here, at the Antigua Posada (Old Inn) on Calle Real, the visitor will find the most characteristic example of traditional architecture in the municipality. This is a large well-restored sixteenth century house that is thought to be one of the first houses that made up the original nucleus of the village.

The sixteenth-century Palacio de los Condes de Corbos (Palace of the Counts of Corbos) is a typical stately home and is in a good state of preservation. Its interior contains all the ornamental and decorative features that belonged to the sixth Count of Corbos, Isidro Mesías de Vargas.

Between the above-mentioned Palace and the San Lorenzo church there stands the Museo Etnográfico de Valle de Abdalajís (Town Ethnographic Museum) and tourist information point. The Museum's collection have been donated by locals, which provides the rooms with genuine tools that help understand how people used to live in Valle de Abdalajís. The Museum is housed In a huge hall divided into several naves by round arches and showcases either hanging from the walls or standing on the floor a host of farming tools like sickles, hayforks, beast yokes, baskets. There is an interesting reproduction of a tiny kitchen, with cooking utensils, and a woman using a sewing machine. The Museum exhibits have a didactic approach.

Work was completed on the San Lorenzo church in 1599. It consists of three naves, and its interior is filled with images toward which the Vallesteros display great devotion: the Virgen de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows), San José (Saint Joseph), the Virgen del Carmen (Virgin of Mount Carmel), Santa Rita (Saint Rita), a Nazarene, etc. Its very simple exterior is noteworthy for its stone base, which gives the building a distinguished appearance, and its three-level bell tower covered by a hip roof.

Another of the village’s outstanding buildings, and one in which its residents display great pride, is the Madre Petra convent. Its most modern part has been converted into a residence for the elderly. The older and more elegant area is devoted to preserving the living quarters and belongings of the founder.

The Cristo de la Sierra (Christ of the Mountains) chapel high up in Valle de Abdalajís is of recent construction-it was completed in 1954-but it enjoys great popularity among the residents of this village, who are very devoted to the Cristo de la Sierra. The simple structure, crowned by an old-fashioned belfry, contrasts with the spectacular scenery to be viewed from the adjacent El Gangarro overlook. A flight of gentle stone steps lead up to the chapel. Accessing El Gangarro, however, is quite difficult, as it is around 10 metres over the chapel. Both the chapel and the scenic viewpoint command stunning views.

The Peana is not a monument but rather an archaeological relic of the highest order, at least as far as the Valletanos are concerned. It is a statue pedestal with an inscription dedicated to Trajan that was found in the ancient city of Nescania. This distinguished archaeological item, which has been dated to the year 104, was transported to Antequera in 1585 by the corregidor (magistrate) Juan Porcel de Peralto so it could be included in the archaeological collection at the Arco de los Gigantes (Arch of the Giants) in that city. Happily for Valle de Abdalajís, it was recovered and today stands in a position of honour on the Plaza de San Lorenzo.