Vélez de Benaudalla

Located on the left bank of the Río Guadalfeo, at the foot of Los Guájares and the Sierra de Lújar, Vélez de Benaudalla is set in beautiful natural surroundings. We highly recommend exploring the valley of the Río de la Toba, which separates the Sierra de Chaparral from Los Guájares. We also recommend a visit to the Garganta de los Vados, in the gorge of the Río Guadalfeo, a great place for rock climbing. At weekends experienced climbers gather here to practise. The beaches of the Costa Tropical are just 10 minutes away by car.

Vélez de Benaudalla also has a rich historical and architectural offering. You can see the remains of an old mosque in the town centre, as well as an excellently preserved fortress built by the Catholic Monarchs. The leafy Jardín Nazarí and the Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora del Rosario are also worth seeing. The Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos – one of the most popular and spectacular local festivals in the region – is celebrated here.

This town is first mentioned in Arabic sources in the context of the 9^th-century Moorish revolt and the Battle of Vélez. At this time it was part of a wider territorial area that included Salobreña, and was made up of farms and farmsteads around the Río de la Toba. It was in one of these farmhouses, the one now known as the Cortijo de Bernadilla, that burial remains of this period have been found.

In 1494 it was given to Don Juan de Ulloa, son of the mayor of Almuñécar Rodrigo de Ulloa, together with the farmhouse of Guájar Fondón. After the expulsion of the Moors it was repopulated in the 16^th century. More recently, its economic driver has been the production of tropical fruits, vegetables and flowers.

The pastries in this town, which originally come from the Arab cuisine, are very good, in particular the doughnuts and the Roscos. The area also produces excellent vegetables and fruits. Try the local casseroles and local fish dishes.