Alora weather statistics - temperature, sun & rain. Álora (2009 population: 13,395) is a lovely town, right on
the river bank of the Guadalhorce river and the Córdoba-Málaga high
speed rail line. From a distance, it is a typical pueblo blanco (white
village), a whitewashed village nestled between three rocky spurs topped
by the ruins of the castle.
History
The area was settled since prehistorical times, and was
exploit for its commercial position by Tartessos and by the Phoenicians,
who most likely built the castle. The Romans, after their conquest of
Spain, restored the fortress and had here a municipium known as
Iluritanum, as attested by an iscription dating to 79 BC.
The fortress was further enlarged by the Visigoths and above
all, the Moors, who conquered it early during their conquest of Spain.
Álora became a stronghold of the rebellious Umar ibn Hafsun,
semi-independent lord of Bobastro in the time of the emirate of Córdoba.
The Christians of northern and central Spain attempted numerous times
to conquest the town, but were successful only in 1484.
Álora enjoyed a period of prosperity during the 16th and 17th
centuries, and in 1628 it became autonomous from the commune of Málaga.
In the 20th century much of the population emigrated, especially to the
United States and, starting from the 1960s, Germany, Australia and
Switzerland.
Main sights
Álora's castle was first built by the Phoenicians and
subsequently expanded under Roman rule. In the 5th century the castle
was virtually destroyed by the Visigoths, only to be rebuilt under the
Moors; remnants of this era still remain, namely the decorative steel
door and the traditional Arab mirador. Other sights include:
church and convent of Nuestra Señora de Flores (16th century)
Iglesia de la Veracruz (16th century)
church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, located on the
site of the castle's mosque. It houses a crucifix by José Navas Parejo.
chapel of St. Brigida (16th century)
chapel of Las Torres (15th century), in late Gothic style
