Pórtugos

Pórtugos is located in the western part of the La Alpujarra, between the Barrancos del Poqueira and the Barranco de Trevélez. Its town centre is typical of La Alpujarra, with its arcades, balconies and terraces full of flowers, which contrast with the immaculate whiteness of the houses. The town’s steep streets winding between battlements and the characteristic ‘tinaos’ (a kind of porch that connects two houses), together create a beautiful picture.

But it is neither the houses nor the flowes that make this town so famous, rather it is the waters for the Fuente Agria that are rich in iron. The spring is located on the outskirts of Pórtugos, set in a beautiful landscape. The water from the spring has dug out a place known as El Chorreón, a small grotto from which a small waterfall flows.

The name of this town comes from the Latin word ‘portus’, which means passageway. The name suggests that the origin of this area as human settlement dates back to the Roman Empire.

It was a place of some importance in the Arab period when La Alpujarra was an large agricultural and textile centre, especially for the production of silk. During the Nasrid period it belonged to the Taha de Ferreira. After the Reconquista of in 1492, the Muslim population was subjected to a great deal of internal pressure. In reaction to this the Moors took up arms against Philip II in 1568. Internal strife amongst the Moors allowed Juan of Austria to quell the uprising fairly quickly. The Moors were expelled in 1609. Later the town was repopulated with settlers from other regions of Spain.

Local hams are very famous. Dishes worth trying are goat, a traditional stew and the pastries of Moorish origin. The Olla de la parva is also a very popular dish.