The Nevada district is made up of four towns, Júbar, Laroles, Mairena and Picena. They are equally traditional and beautiful, but each one is very different and are worth visiting. They all preserve an air of tranquillity, and each one is surrounded by lovely landscapes with forests and ridges. You can also see some of the native animals of La Alpujarra including alpine animals such as the ibex.
Puerto de La Ragua is just 16 kilometres away and is the second biggest ski resort in the province of Granada.
Mairena is one of the towns in the municipality of Nevada and nicknamed the balcony of La Alpujarra, because from its viewpoint you can enjoy amazing views over the whole Valle de Ugíjar, the Cerrajón de Murtas and the Sierra Gador. It is one of the whitest and best-cared-for towns in the surrounding urban area, from where you can see the silhouette of the church from afar. The Piedra de los Tiempos, a rock believed to have had beneficial influences over the harvests, is located nearby.
Not far away is Júbar, the smallest of the four towns but well worth seeing. The traditional architecture is perfectly integrated with its verdant natural surroundings.
Laroles is the main town in the municipality of Nevada. It is well known for its magnificent chestnut trees, whose delicious fruits have been eaten and sold throughout the town’s history. The Fuente Cantarina fountain deserves a special mention; thousands of people come each year to see it. On the upper part of the column placed here in 1681, there is a marble statue of the Immaculate Virgin. On the lower part is a statue of an angel promising that: “With one Hail Mary you will earn 10 days of indulgence“.
Picena with its stepped layout lies down the hill, just by the Río Laroles. The border between the provinces of Granada and Almeria is just below here. The vegetation is lush, and even hides the ruins of an interesting medieval castle.
The origins of the towns go back a long way. It is said that Nevada showed considerable resistance to Roman and later the Berber occupation. The location of the current town is of Muslim origin and retains certain traditions of the Moorish administrative system.
Due to its strategic position, this area played a key role in the guerrilla warfare of the Moors during the reign of Philip II. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by Christian troops. The Christians crushed the revolt and the Moors were expelled from the town, leaving it practically depopulated.
