This villa of particular urban beauty and a vast territory of worked fields are located 65 kilometres away from Granada’s capital, at the shores of the river of its same name, in the limit of the Jaén province and in the road that runs near the Natural Park of the Mágina Mountain range.
The town is located on the edge of the fluvial channel of the Guadahortuna river, whose name comes from the Arab voice guad, river, and of Latin hortus, orchard. That is why the meaning of the name is “River of the orchards”. The town has one of the most outstanding buildings of the architectonic patrimony of the region, the church of Santa Maria la Mayor.
Another monument, although in this case of the road engineering, is the Bridge of the Hacho, the old railroad bridge raised at the end of the XIX century over the channel of the Guadahortuna river.
Although this area has been inhabited since Prehistoric times, it was not until the Muslim period when it had prominence and it received its present name. It occupied a border area, reason why the population was object of the so called “cavalcades” during years. The Christian troops, quartered in Cazorla, attack Muslim territory with the purpose of harassing its inhabitants.
After the conquest of the area by Don Fadrique de Toledo, in 1486, the Queen Isabel arranged its repopulation with Christian villagers to guarantee the security of the roads and the bread supply to the large city of Granada. From 1492, Guadahortuna and its district were part of the city of Granada, until in 1557 it bought its independence by the payment to the Crown of almost two million and a half of maravedies, which were contributed proportionally by its 351 inhabitants of the time.
Its cuisine is related with the different seasons, as well as with the products of the orchard that are cultivated and they harvest according to the time of the year. The cereals, the vegetables and the olive oil of the area are typical in its dishes. Among the meats, its typical recipes are based on the poultries and the pig. Some of its exquisite dishes are the migas, the partridge marinated in vinegar, the gypsy pot, the stew of slaughter and the potaje. Among its pastry making it is necessary to emphasize the nochebuenos, magdalenas and fried milk.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
