description Zafarraya




		Zafarraya and Alhama de Granada

Exactly situated between the big cities Malaga and Granada Ventas de Zafarraya forms a good starting point for going on a trip to the coast as well as to the Spanish hinterland of the province of Granada.

The village with about 1340 inhabitants is 920 m above sea level on a wide plateau, which is used for vegetable gardening. Several mountain ranges frame it. The most impressive is the Natural Gateway (“El Boquete”), a gigantic notch in a mountain range, through which passes the road which connects the provinces Malaga and Granada. Here is a fantastic lookout point with explanations, from where you look out over the wide coastal region and the Mediterranean Sea.

Places of interest

The old railway station, the “Cortijo Los Buenos” (residence of the margrave Ybarra), the “Hotel de la Estación” (bar and museum together), the old townhall from 1873, the church “Sta. María de los Dolores”.

Festivals

“La Candelaria” on 2nd February (bonfires all over the village), “Viernes de Dolores” on Friday before Palm Sunday (patronage festival to the glory of the Virgen de los Dolores), the pilgrimage San Marcos on 25th April, the “Ferie Chica” or “Feria Real de Junio” on 20th June, the “Feria Grande” or “Feria Real de Septiembre” on 4th September or the first weekend of September

In Ventas de Zafarraya is a petrol station, various little shops and bars, so that you are well provided for the daily requirements. Especially worth mentioning is the pub at the Natural Gateway, where they serve very tasty fried chicken. - But it is worth visiting the hotel behind the restaurant San Marco, which is in a sharp bend at the road A 402 in direction of Alhama de Granada. There you sit in front of an enormous walk-in fireplace during you take a drink and some free tapas or you enjoy one of the tasty meals of good plain cooking or game.

Just opposite of the hotel is a little hippodrome, where often some events are held. - Behind the hotel is another access to the Nature Park. Don’t miss to make a quick trip to it to see the special flora and fauna and the fantastic lookout points. Anyway you should go on a hike or perhaps even make an ascent to the summit of the Maroma, which has more than 2000 m.



Following the road A 402 soon you arrive Alhama de Granada. This town with nearly 6000 inhabitants is 883 m over sea level and offers several places of interest.



			The name of the town comes from an Arabic word, which means “warm waters” and says, where the hot springs flow. Still today you can use the public, free spa or for money the comfortably developed thermal springs for a bath in the sulphurous, warm water of 40° C.



		Alhama de Granada is on the steep bank of the river Alhama, which begins abrupt behind the houses. The view into the depth is stunning and reminds of the ravine of Ronda.

	A walk through the lovely narrow streets with the old houses to the towering cathedral is worthwhile. Countless restaurants and bars with tasty dishes make sure you don’t go hungry. And it goes without saying that also here is a huge number of shops, where you can go shopping.


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