From its enviable location to the north of the Sierra de
Mijas, Alhaurín el Grande remains a rural town surrounded by beautiful
countryside, yet just a short drive from the busy coast.
From its enviable location to the north of the Sierra de
Mijas, Alhaurín el Grande remains a rural town surrounded by beautiful
countryside, yet just a short drive from the busy coast.
As ever increasing numbers of people discover the benefits of life in Alhaurín, the town’s infrastructure is racing to keep up with the increasing demands being placed on it. Yet, while the town may make an idea base from which to sample the best of Málaga and the coast while maintaining a safe distance, the new commuters may be surprised to learn that they are living in a fascinating town with a long and interesting heritage of its own. Alhaurín el Grande’s new arrivals are just the latest wave in a long line of settlers and armies and, despite the ever changing face of the town, Alhaurín has survived them all.
With its warm climate, the forested areas to the hilly south-east of Alhaurín el Grande made an ideal home to Neanderthal man. Later, the Romans built a settlement here and, due to the area’s rich mineral deposits, the town thrived. The Romans gave the settlement its first recorded name, Lauro Nova, and the nearby settlement of Alhaurín de la Torre was named Lauro Vetus. This became Alhaurín’s first boom time, during which many Roman villas were constructed, evidence of which can still be found in the surrounding hills.
Other waves of settlers, such as the Visigoths, arrived and departed, but it wasn’t until the Moorish era that Lauro Nova saw any new development to challenge those of the Romans.
Following in the Roman’s footsteps, the Moors also gave it a new name – the name we are now familiar with: Alhaurín (Garden of Allah). The two towns became Alhaurín el Grande and Alhaurín de la Torre.
It was during the Moorish era that many of Alhaurín el Grande’s most famous monuments were built. A castle, Torres de Fahala, was constructed on a nearby hilltop, yet sadly this was destroyed during the Catholic reconquest, but the 12th Century Moorish archway ‘Arcos de Cobertizo’ near the church and one of Alhaurín’s best known tourist attractions El Molino Morisco de los Corchos (the Moorish Cork Mill) have miraculously survived.
A powerful earthquake wreaked havoc in 1680 and during the Peninsular War (1807-12) Alhaurín el Grande was occupied by French troops and suffered considerable bombardment for four years. Given the town’s somewhat turbulent history, it’s sometimes hard to believe that any heritage survived. Yet the town remains proud of its roots, and at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, three Roman columns discovered at Fuente del Sol have been erected, taking pride of place in front of majestic sweeping views of the valley and mountains beyond.
The old part of the town with its narrow streets, sudden vistas of the surrounding mountains, interesting churches and ancient bars clings determinedly to this magnificent past, yet a short drive down the main boulevard and you will discover a lively, modern town, its streets lined with bars, discos and restaurants and thronged with people of all nationalities.
Alhaurín el Grande may be becoming a modern multinational and vibrant town, but whatever changes this brings are just the next exciting chapter being written in the history books of this fascinating and ancient town.