Salobreña, hanging from an imposing rock, still conserves in its historical town centre the medieval structure of its Arab time, with a framework of side streets, corridors and labyrinths, whitewashed houses, sprinkled with flowers that add colour to the charming surroundings. Amazing corners with bends, inner doors, little windows, passages and vaults. Names as suggestive as La Loma neighbourhood, the Fuente, the Brocal or the Albaicín, transport us to us to previous times.
This town enjoys a privileged climate, subtropical, with annual average temperatures of 20 degrees, not lower than 14 and not higher than 32, that allow enjoying its beaches most of the year. In addition, due of its location in the heart of the Tropical Coast, Salobreña is very near to many other points of tourist interest of the area.
The patrimony also constitutes one of its tourist attractions. The Arab Castle, the Church of the Rosario, the Medina, the Parque de la Fuente, and the Park and viewpoints of Gambullón among others stand out. The Local Tourist Office organizes interesting guided visits through these and other places, like the fertile and green fertile plain that extends on the feet of the Castle, with cultivations of sugar and tropical fruits trees.
It has been establishment of numerous civilizations due to its privileged location and rich surroundings. The first settlements date from the Neolithic period and later, the Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs have left their track in the history of Salobreña. During the Neolithic period, semi nomadic shepherds frequented the area leaving as traces of their culture the Cave of the Great Captain in the outskirts of Lobres. In the VIII century b.C. the Phoenicians disembarked in its coasts and establish a factory and salted fish. Towards the I century b.C., is conquered by the Carthaginians and already under Roman domination is integrated in the Bética province. During the Roman domination it was part of the itinerary that connected Castulo with Malaka.
Its Muslim period begins in the 713 a.C, when Abdelaziz, son of Muza, occupy these territories. This stage lasted eight centuries and its maximum splendour was in the Nasrid period of the Kingdom of Granada, changing the name to Salubania. In 1489 the Christians conquer Salobreña, thank to the artillery captain Francisco Ramirez de Madrid. Because of his defence of the castle after the siege of the Nasrid king Boabdil, the Catholic Kings named him lord of Salobreña. At the beginning of 1810 the French occupy this area, until being expelled in 1812. In second half of the XIX century the sugar industry resurges, which impels the urban development of the villa.
The gastronomy of Salobreña has great variety and quality, thanks to the rich mixture of the multiple civilizations that have been based in its coasts. The products of the sea stand out: blue fish pickled, dry squid, sticks of sardines, zarzuelas of seafood, and rock fish to the salt. The weather also favours products of the cultivated fields: great variety of vegetables and fruits can be tasted in this town, specially the tropical ones, like cherimoya, the mango and the avocado. The homemade dishes, stews, and the sausages complete the wide gastronomical supply of this district.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
