Alcalá del Valle - Pueblos Blancos

Alcalá del Valle is a small town located between Cadiz and Malaga, belonging to the Route of the Pueblos Blancos. The charm of the village lies in the preservation of its architecture, of clear Nasrid influence, as well as the preservation of the dolmens of El Tomillo. Its religious buildings of great historical value and its varied gastronomy make the municipality a mandatory stop for visitors on this itinerary.

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GASTRONOMY

LOCAL FESTIVITIES

ROUTES

HISTORIC HERITAGE

Historic Heritage

Church of Saint María del Valle

The Church of Saint María del Valle is a religious temple built in honor of the patron saint of the town, which stands out for its exceptional facade and the size of the building. Baroque in style, it was built between the 17th and 18th centuries, although over time it has been remodeled due to the wear caused by the passage of time. It has three naves, and its interior contains relics such as a 17th century baptismal font and the ‘Tabla del Milagro’, a Baroque altarpiece depicting the miracle of the construction of the Caños Santos Sanctuary and the Cristo of la Buena Muerte.

Statue of the Immigrant

Located in the Town Hall Square is the Statue of the Immigrant, a tribute to all those people from Alcalá who had to leave their homes to find an occupation. As one of the largest monuments in the town, it stands in a well-tended landscaped area, with benches and next to a fountain. One of its sides is nearby a canal that crosses the entire village.

Large Fountain

The Large Fountain of Alcalá del Valle is a stone construction, restored in 1997, located in an area of Roman archaeological sites. The water emanating from its five spouts comes from the namesake spring.

Monastery of Caños Santos

Located in what is known as the Hermoso Valley is the Monastery of Caños Santos, a group of religious buildings built in 1542. Founded by Brother Martín, the first Community of Third Franciscans Prior of Caños Santos, the land on which it was built was ceded by Sir Juan Téllez and where a hermitage was previously located.

Dolmens of Los Tomillos

One of the great attractions of the village is the collective burial site located in the Dolmens of Los Tomillos, a megalithic construction made up of covered galleries, polygonal megaliths, a circular chamber and mixed tombs, among others. Among the remains, stone tools, flint, bone, plain pottery and metal ornaments have been found, making it possible to date these collective burial sites from the Late Neolithic to the Bronze Age.

Kissing Corner

Created during the summer of 2020, a new tourist attraction called the Kissing Corner is located in Patín Street. A hideout of a characteristic white of the Pueblos Blancos, decorated with pots and flowers of vivid colors, which invites couples to take a picture of themselves. A charming little place to immortalize your visit to the village.

Routes

Caños Santos Path

In a unique natural settlement, we can find the Caños Santos Path, an itinirerary frequented by locals and pilgrims on their way to the convent of the same name. The route begins on the road to Pruna, near the municipal cemetery, a landscape full of olive trees; it continues through plains that allow visitors to contemplate beautiful panoramic views of the Sierra of Grazalema and Sierra of las Nieves. For just over two hours, the route offers unique sceneries.

Mills Route

The Mills Route consists of a path that runs along the Path of Alcalá del Valle livestock trail, which connects Setenil de las Bodegas with the town. For one hour, visitors can enjoy unique views such as the Salto de la Molinilla, the last waterfall of the Mills’stream before it flows into the Trejo River. At the outlet of this stream, we can observe the Escapes of the Trejo River, one of the most beautiful spots in the region. The variety of flora and fauna completes an itinerary of great beauty.

Archaeological Route

The Archaeological Route is a path of great interest where the Dolmens of El Tomillo become the main subjects of the itinerary. Made of burials from the Chalcolithic Period, they make up a group of sites that show the first signs of population in the area. These dolmens can be related to other megalithic constructions located in Seville and Malaga.

Alcalá del Valle Urban Route

The Alcalá del Valle Urban Route allows visitors to lose themselves among the streets of the municipality to reach two viewpoints from which you can enjoy views of the town. The Slope Viewpoint and El Tajo Viewpoint are halfway to the Kissing Corner, a unique and charming spot where couples can take a picture of themselves and bring back home a unique local souvenir.

Historical Memory Route

The Historical Memory Route is an itinerary of great historical value, product of the warlike events at the end of the Second Republic, the Civil War and its aftermath. A recent exhumation has made it possible to recover the body of a family, some jewelry, projectiles and bone remains. The grave located in El Baldío is a clear reflection of the horrors made in the Francoism and a reminder of a period from which it is necessary to learn so as not to repeat the same mistakes.

Local festivities

Passion of Christ

The Passion of Christ takes place in March, undoubtedly one of the most fervent moments of the year. The HOSANNA Association stages different passages from the life, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the streets of the town. In addition, on Women’s Day, workshops and activities are organized to pay tribute to women’s effort.

Christmas

The calendar of December is full of various activities that liven up the Christmas festivities. The Living Nativity Scene and the Christmas Market set the scene during the holidays with performances in which the whole town participates and activities aimed at all audiences.

Duchenne Association Fundraising Gala, APAMA Walkathon and AFA Walkathon

During the months of September and October, different events of a solidarity nature take place, with the aim of raising funds to keep development, training and research activities. The Duchenne Association Fundraising Gala, APAMA Walkathon and AFA Walkathon are some of the events that take place for this purpose.

Cultural Summer, Themed Nights in Caños Santos and Saint Roque’s Fair

During the summer, a series of activities are held to liven up this time of the year. The Cultural Summer is made up of different children’s parties, gymkhanas, book fairs and open-air cinemas. On weekends in July and August, Themed Nights in Caños Santos are held, with routes to the Convent and guided tours of the facilities. The Saint Roque’s Fair in honor of the patron saint of Alcalá is also held during these months.

Cultu-Rural Conferences

In January, the Cultu-Rural Conferences take place, where various gastronomic workshops are held. Thus, you can learn how to season olives, can vegetable garden products and make jam, among other activities.

Genuine Andalusian Fundraising Football Cup

On 28 December, the Genuine Andalusian Fundraising Football Cup takes place between teams from the same league. For children, workshops and games will be organized under the name of Divertilandia. Finally, the countdown to the end of the year begins with the Pre-uvas Popular Race.

Carnival and Popular ‘Chochá’

The arrival of February brings with it the celebration of the Carnival of Alcalá, which is preceded by the Popular ‘Chochá’, a well-known local festivity with carnival performances and a lunch in which the whole town gets involved.

Holy Week, Asparagus Fair and World Book Day

Holy Week in Alcalá has been declared a festivity of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia. Seven days of devotion and feelings on edge, where the different brotherhoods go through every corner of the municipality accompanied by their people. April also sees the celebration of the Asparagus Fair, which aims to get to know the town’s star product. At the end of the month the World Book Day’s Commemorative Week also takes place, with activities to promote reading.

Cultural Autumn, All Saints’ Day and Tapas’ Route

In November the celebration of cultural activities continues with the Cultural Autumn of Alcalá. On the November 1st, All Saints’ Day takes place, a deep-rooted tradition in which tribute is paid to the deceased. Finally, during the weekends in November, the Tapas’ Route is held. A gastronomic tour of the main bars and restaurants in the municipality, where you can savor the exquisite traditional dishes of the village.

Pilgrimage

In May, the Pilgrimage of Alcalá is held, where the patron saint of the town is accompanied to the Convent of Caños Santos in an emotional move.

Gastronomy

Gastronomic Corner

Alcalá’s cuisine has become a reference at the regional level, and the town has come to be known as the Gastronomic Corner of the Sierra of Cadiz. The properties of products such as oil, asparagus and artichokes serve as ingredients for high quality dishes, which are also a great claim and engine of development of the town.

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