Murtas

Murtas is located at the foot of the Cerrajón, the most interesting tourist attraction of the town. It is located 1508 meters above sea level and is the highest peak of La Contraviesa and one of the best places to see across the whole region. From here you can see the peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean coast.

There are two caves in Cerrajón: La Gotera on the northern face, and La Vieja on the south side, near the source of the Río Inotes, which supplies drinking water to the municipality. Behind the Venta del Chaleco there is another cave in the Cerro del Minchal.

The locals are fond of their traditional ballads, a musical tradition that spreads across most of La Alpujarra. The ballads are stanzas of five-lined limericks,  normally sung accompanied by string instruments. The lyrics are usually scathing and sarcastic, and often improvised. The performers answer each other in verse quickly, and performances can often be enjoyed at local festivals and competitions.

The name of the town comes from the Arab word for myrtle. Here axes and other tools from the Bronze Age have been excavated, as this has been a site for human settlements ever since the Neolithic Age.

During the Moorish period, Murtas fell under the jurisdiction of Sahill. After the Reconquista the Moorish population resisted the Christian pressure, and organised an uprising under the leadership of Aben Humeya. This revolt led to the expulsion of the Moors and the subsequent depopulation of the area. Christians from Castile, Galicia and Asturias later repopulated the lands. In the 19^th century the local wine and silk industry let the town flourish.

Some of the most delicious pastries in Granada are made in the local cooperative in Murtas. In addition to traditional Arab pastries, such as Soplillos and Cuajados, the cooperative also makes almond cheese.

The local winemaking industry is headed by the Bodegas Cuatro Vientos, one of the few quality wines produced in the province and one of the most delicious dishes is the Conejo al colorín.