The Sorvilán district descents quickly towards the Mediterranean Sea from the thousand meters of altitude that La Contraviesa Mountain range, where it is located, maintains as average level throughout all its extension.
The route through its territory is a continuous invitation to enjoy the vibrating landscape that follows one another alternating ravines, hills, boulevards and beach. The lost cortijadas and villages that form a panorama speckled of white spots between the blue of the sea, the green of the fertile plains and the ochre of the mountain ranges are worth to see.
The district appears splashed by small extensions of ancient oaks and strong cork oaks, which are not more than remains of the great forest, that there was in the area. It only remains a near and thick cork oak grove in the surroundings of Alfornón, being this one the main anejo of the district until decades ago. Los Yesos is the second core with more population. As far as Melicena, the third population centre, it constitutes one of the few places of the Spanish Mediterranean coast where the word quietness has not lost sense yet.
Sorvilán is a district of clearly Islamic origin and since its beginnings it was characterized by enjoying a flourishing agriculture. In the VIII and IX centuries an effective irrigation system for its vineyards was established, which was improved later by the Moorish and also by the Christian settlers after the Reconquista.
In the XIV century it became part of the Great Zehel Taha and after it was part of the land given to Boabdil, the last Nasrid king of Granada. Its location gave it in its day considerable advantages, because being built on a hill; it was not affected by the attacks of the pirates in the XVII century against the settlements of the coast. The wine production of the Costa type has been during years the base of its economy. Nowadays it is being opened to the subtropical cultivations and more recently to the tourism in its coastal core.
Of Sorvilán its wines and almond trees stand out, in addition to its tomatoes, watermelons, courgettes, aubergines and melons. They do not lack of stews native of the Alpujarra, as the migas and the gachas “colorás”, as well as the fish. The most famous dessert is the cuajado of almonds.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
