Jerez de la Frontera dates from Phoenician times, but first rose to prominence under the Moors, who called it Xerix or Sherrich ‘De la Frontera’. These names refer to Jerez’s position on the frontier of Moorish Spain, and the Alcazar (fortress) is a reminder of the town’s strategic importance.
The most striking thing about the Mezquita is that, incongruously, the "mosque" contains a Christian church (Cordoba's cathedral). What one sees from outside is confusing indeed: a huge, flat-roofed low-lying square building with a gigantic baroque church jutting up in the middle like a rather unsightly stone wedding-cake.
In Estepona various tools have been found made from local flint or quartzite using methods attributed to the Neanderthal era. Since we know the now-extinct Neanderthals lived in Gorham's cave in Gibraltar it raises the possibility that 30,000 years ago they were the first human (or at least humans' relatives) inhabitants of Estepona. These tools have been found in the Corominas and at Arroyo Vaquero.
Throughout the millennia, the Alpujarra has been the setting for countless historical events, remaining silent witness to them all. The Syrians and Phoenicians were the first people to establish commercial relations with the indigenous communities of the Spanish Mediterranean, and they may have been the founders of Sex (Motril), Ábdera (Adra), Sexi (Almuñecar).
According to historical archives, the remains found in the Caves del Moro, de la Higuerilla, and de la Paloma indicate that the earliest settlements recognised in the area were megalithic.
The tourist office of La Calahorra is located in the Town Hall.
If you are considering visiting this town you will be interested to check the latest weather forecast for the next few days from the table below.
Popular festivals in La Calahorra are Fiestas de San Antón, Fiestas de San José, San Marcos, Fiesta de San Gregorio Nacianceno and Día de la Raza.
There is a bus service from La Calahorra to Granada City using the bus company, BAM.
The church has a rectangular floor plan and features a gentle staircase adjoining the presbytery, which can be accessed via a large triumphal arch.
The path leading up to the castle is steeped in centuries of history.
It is believed that the castle was built by a Moorish king on the site of an ancient fortification, which may have been erected during the Visigothic period and renovated during the Muslim occupation.
There is evidence that human settlements existed in La Calahorra and the Marquesado region during the Neolithic period. Bronze Age sites belonging to the El Argar culture have also been documented in the Marquesado del Zenete area, most notably at El Zabelí in Esfiliana
The tourist office of Jérez del Marquesado is located in the Town Hall.
If you are considering visiting this town you will be interested to check the latest weather forecast for the next few days from the table below.
Popular festivals in Jérez del Marquesado are Fiestas de San Antón, Candelaria, San Marcos, San Juan and Fiestas de la Virgen de la Tizná.
There is a bus service from Jérez del Marquesado to Granada City using the bus company, BAM.
The abandoned mines date back to the nineteenth century, as does the Regas mill, which is still in operation today.
The earliest written references to a fortress in Jerez (al-Qasr Sened) date back to the 12th century. In 1125, Alfonso "El Batallador" arrived, causing great destruction to the nearby towns.
The church is one of the most impressive in the area, retaining its full Mudéjar character despite some interesting Baroque additions.
