It is a coastal, interior and marine and agricultural town. It is possible to enjoy the tourism of sun and beach in the Rábita or to practice trekking and speleology in places like the Majada de los Campos. To have a wonder by the labyrinth of its streets of the town centre is to get impregnated of history. Buildings like the Casa de las Margaritas, where the Granada’s writer Pedro Antonio de Alarcón lived to write part of his work, can be contemplated.
The Parochial Church of San Patricio is the most emblematic monument of Albuñol. Its origin dates from 1616 by the convent of San Gregorio and Parochial Church of the Virgen del Rosario that were located in the same place that occupies the Church today.
Albuñol also stands out by its natural beauty. To spend a few days in this town means quietness and rest. It is very special the naturist Playa del Ruso, which clean and warm waters will always give an excellent welcome to the visitor. In Albuñol there are mountainous places, as well as footpaths, caves and other attractions ideals for the rural and active tourism. The Cave of the Bats, archaeological site of the Neolithic period stands out. It is located in such a steep place that the footpath that takes you there is known as the Route of the Narrowness.
The 17 of March Albuñol celebrates, in honour of San Patricio, its popular and religious celebrations. The 25 of July El Pozuelo celebrates to Santiago Apostle and the Rábita does it the 15 of May, in honour of San Isidro Labrador, and later, the 8 of September in honour to the Virgin of the Sea. At the end of the month of October it is celebrated the Fair of the wine and the tapa, where visitors and people from the region meet around the wine and the gastronomical tradition of the region.
The history of this population goes back to the Neolithic period, as it testifies the archaeological rests found in the Cave of the Bats. They are several skeletons with their funeral belongings and rest of the dress with which they were shrouded. These rests were conserved during some time in the National Archaeological Museum and later they were lent partly to the Archaeological Museum of Granada. In any case, written documentation about Albuñol is only known from the XV century.
This town probably has a Roman origin and reached its maximum splendour at the Arab-andalusi period thanks to its agricultural resources. Albuñol became the capital of the Great Cehel or Great Coast and was defended by the fortress of the Rábita, today disappeared. In 1505 Don Luis Zapata acquires the Señorío de Albuñol from Doña Juana, daughter of the Catholic Kings, receiving therefore the title of city. In the first years of the XVII century it suffered a great depopulation process with the expulsion of the moriscs, as a result of the revolt of Aben Humeya, being repopulated later with people from Castilia, Galicia and Leon, passing to the hands of the Señorío of the Count of Cifuentes. At the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX century, this town was also famous due to an outstanding politician called Natalio Rivas, who was several times minister, in addition to illustrious son of the villa and deputy on the Court.
The gastronomy of this town does not escape from the influences of the near region of Alpujarra and, of course, from the marine cuisine. They are very well known the choto al ajillo, the ligas with fish, the moriscos sweets, and the fried milk among others.
Albuñol has a very important wine tradition, and in its hills and slopes the vineyards the “Costa” wines are cultivated, of singular flavour and strong in alcohol. Some of the sausages are very well known, like the black puddings and the chorizos. The production of their aromatic almonds, base of their traditional pastries, such as the almendrados of dry figs, stand out.
A very good fish can also been eaten, which it arrives from La Rábita. Flavourful sardines “espichadas” dried to the air and to the Mediterranean sun are elaborated, and, according to the people who know, very appreciated in the area.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
