Juviles is located in the Alpujarra Alta, on a plateau surrounded by chestnut trees. Of its past splendour only ruins remain, such as remnants of its famous castle on a rock near the town of El Fuerte. Inside its walls, remains of its medieval water tanks still stand, one of which is known as ‘Ermita de los Moros’, meaning ‘the Hermitage of the Moors’. From this point you can get views over the whole Taha de Juviles.
The village has superb views over the surrounding area and is located in a very quiet and tranquil place. Other places worth visiting are the picturesque village of Tajodel Águila and the famous Pisada del Gigante, an imposing set of limestone walls, under which there are terraces for growing crops dotted with oaks. On this wall there is an imprint that resembles the footprint of a huge human foot.
Another interesting aspect of Juviles is its traditional celebrations of Moors and Christians, one of the oldest in the province. It also has long tradition of curing delicious hams in the mountain air.
A fortress from the 8th century shows that the origin of Juviles dates back to the early years of the Muslim occupation. Its importance was due to its strategic position, as it served as a refuge during wars and attacks. It was here that the rebels from Alpujarra fled and were besieged by Abd al-Rahman III in the summer of 913. After fifteen days, the Andalusian Muslims asked the emir for forgiveness, promising to give up the Christians they had protected within the town walls, who were later beheaded. Juviles gained great prominence during the Reconquista of Granada and showed strong resistance. For this reason King Ferdinand ordered its destruction.
Juviles became the main city of the region, which included 32 other towns and villages. It took the side of Abén Humeya during the Moorish rebellion and subsequently paid a high price. More than a thousand Moorish captives were killed by the Marquis of Mondéjar in a field that has since become known as the ‘Huerto de los Mártires’ (‘Garden of the Martyrs’).
Once the Moors were expelled after the victory of Juan de Austria in the late 16th century, the town was repopulated with Christians who mainly came from Castilla.
In Juviles you can taste the typical cuisine of the region. This includes stews, couscous, lamb, Chotos and pork dishes. The local hams, made from white pigs and cured in fresh mountain air, are particularly good. Mushrooms with Serrano ham is a signature dish of the town.
