SALOBRENA
The centre of Salobreña, which is built on an impressive rock, is a maze of white houses making up the picturesque districts of Brocal, Albaycín, La Fuente and La Loma. There is no need for a map - just wander at will. Even if you don’t know which direction you are heading in, it will nearly always be either upwards or downwards!
Right on top of the rock, 105 metres above sea level, is the Arabic fortified castle, the Castillo. Every year the castle attracts thousands of visitors, and the best views are obtainable from this high point. The story goes that early in the 15th century, the Sultan of Granada was on his deathbed and feared that his son might be cheated of his inheritance by the Sultan’s brother Yusuf, even though Yusuf was already imprisoned in Salobreña. So he sent someone to kill Yusuf - who asked for a last favour, to be allowed to finish a game of chess he had been playing. He stretched the chess game out so long that when news arrived of the death of the Sultan, he was still playing - and was proclaimed in place of his nephew.
Just below the castle is the parish church, built on the site of an old mosque and distinguished by a Moorish style arch.
The other main feature of Salobreña is its wide beach, split in two by Peñon rock. The beach, although a short walk away from the town itself is the location of several “chiringuitos” (beach bars), very popular restaurants and bars with locals and tourists alike.
To find out more about the physical history of Salobreña, the museum, found inside the municipal library, is well worth a visit. With the help of a model and visual aids, the museum tells how Salobreña was once practically an island before the river gradually deposited its sediment to form the rich delta which along with the climate explains the abundance of crops such as sugar cane.
Like any other Spanish town or village, Salobreña has its share of traditional festivals and fairs. Semana Santa (Holy Week) is worth experiencing just to see how on earth they manage to carry the “tronos”, up and down the awkwardly narrow sloping streets. Then from the 24th to the 29th of June the people of Salobreña celebrate their San Juan and San Pedro fair which is followed in October by the festival in honour of the Virgin of the Rosario, the patron of Salobreña.
The summer season brings many concerts and shows to Salobreña, many of which take place by night in the spectacular setting of the Arabic castle. One of these events not to be missed is the “Lucero del Alba” flamenco festival turning the historic castle into a romantic setting for a delightful display of traditional music and dancing.
|
