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The Sierra de las Nieves has been declared a "tourist destination" which includes the surrounding areas of:
Alozaina
Alozaina which means "small fortress", makes the boundary between the Malaga basin and the mountains. Rich in archaelogical remains, the area harmoniously combines its fields of olive trees, orchards and cereal crops with the majesty of the Sierra Prieta, whose peak stands at 1,525 metres high!
This mountain village, crammed with nooks and crannies of a markedly Muslim flavour, was the birthplace of Maria Sagredo, the local heroine who defended Alozaina, when the Moors attempted to capture it by hurling beehives at the locals, taking advantage of a moment when only its women, children and elderly were present.
The village, historically renowned as a healthy location, offers breathtaking views, good food, top-quality accommodation and a wealth of options for those in search of an active holiday.
Casarabonela
With its mixture of different cultures. Casarabonela is one of Malaga's best examples of a village that has managed to successfully combine its Muslim and Christian opast, largely conserving the original urban layout of the Arabic Casr-Bonaira.
Its steep, narrow streets are home to a myriad if blind alleys and rasied rooms under which the street itself passes. The thirsty traveller will appreciate the fountain and crystalline sorings to be found here.
Today, the village founded by the Romans as Castra Vinaria is a haven of peace and tranquility whose upper reaches afford views of an attractive carpet of fertile fields splashed with the brilliant white of the farmhouses. In Casarabonela, hills merge with streets, the river with the fountain, while in quiet corners, the echoes of fierce battles still ring aloud.
El Burgo
Surrounded by mountains crowned by evergreen oaks, Spanish fir and pine trees. El Burgo stands on a hilltop, defiant in the face of a history that has seen a wealth of different cultures jealously covet this strategic vantage point.
Home to family clans during the Copper Age, it was here that the Carthaganians later built what became known as Hannibal's Tower, while in Roman times it was a obligatory port of call for both men and merchandise alike before becoming the site of a border castle during the Arabic occupation.
The River Turon, which has its source in El Burgo and whose waters help cultivate the fields of olvie trees and cereals crops, flows through a privileged natural setting that the visitor will enjoy sampling along with the roch local cuisine and ancient traditions.
Guaro
The intense aroma of almond trees that bear pink and white blossom in spring signals to the traveller that he is approaching Guaro, an attractive village whose history dates from thhe Copper Age, testimony to its privileged location.
The coat of arms of the earldom of Guarom a mace held aloft by two arms, bears witness to the distinguished past of this locality, which was handed over to the catholic Monarchs following the capture of Coin in 1485. In 1614, it was awarded village status and designated the capital of an earldom of the same name by King Philip IV.
The waters of the River Grande, the symbol of the local economy, only serve to further embelish the picturesque natural setting that awaits the visitor to Guaro.
Istan
In Istan, the streets are dominated by the sound of water gushing out from among the stones, flowing in irrigation channels and sprining forth from fountains, before filling the reservoir that provides drinking water for the Costa del Sol.
Though the richness of the local terrain was already apparent as early as Roman Times, it was the arrival of the Muslims that ushered in the golden age of this village tucked away between the Sierra Real and Sierra Blanca ranges. Local raisins, wine and silk were exported to the whole of Europe, while the introduction of a major water channelling system still in use today turned the hillsides into orchards.
On the way to Istan, shortly after entering the Biosphere Reserve, the visitor will notice a sudden change in light. This is caused by a subtle blend of colours in which carob trees, pines and cork groves produce a series of shades of green that afre complemented by the clear, blue reflection of the Rio Verde reservoir. A spectacular slight to behold, and less than ten minutes from the village.
Monda
Halfway between the valley and the mountains, sheltered from the wind by a hill upon which Villeta Castle stands, Monda's immense beauty saw it officially declared a picturesque spot in 1971.
In this village of landscapes and legends, whose other official accolades include Historic Location and Place of Cultural Interest Status, valuable traces of ancient inhabitants, including an Iberian settlement, still abound.
Monda is also home to the most interesting remains of a Roman and Medieval road to be found in the whole of the Sierra de la Nieves region. This is situated some 700 metres from the village itself, on the road to Coin, and compromises three areas: the original Roman construction, a section repaired during Medieval times and a third, more recent stretch that features a series of low steps to accommodate carriages.
Between the ranges of the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Alpujata, in an area of great hydraulic riches, stands Ojen, a picturesque location flanked by mountauinsand sea, a village with a strong Andalusian flavour evident in the layout of its streets, its popular architecture and its abundant flowers.
Though Ojen´s numerous caves were home to settlers as long ago as Neolithic times, it was not until the X century that Islamic chronicles refer to a village whose castle, now destroyed, frequently changed hands in the wake of a series of uprisings, rebellions and conquests. It was subsequently repopulated by Old Christians from the Guadalquivir Valley.
As Ojen enjoys the advantages afforded by its proximityto both the cosmopolitan coast and the rural interior, it ofefrs a myriad of options to the visitor.
ToloxAt the heart of the Sierra de las Nieves stands Tolox, an area of picturesque contrasts with its whitewashed houses and red mountains and home to the famous Torrecilla peak and GESM pothole.
Its origins date back to the Neolithic period, as witnessed by La Tinaja, the cave in which remains of decorated ceramic vessels were found. The village's turbulent history is evident in the few surviving traces of its heritage. Just a few references in street names enable us to reconstruct the layout of what was once the castle, the scene of Moorish rebellions and bloody conflicts between Christians and Muslims.
YunqueraHome to the largest pine grove in the world, Yunquera owes its name to the large quantities of reeds or juncos that once stood here, which in turn bears witness to the abundance of water in the village.
Possibly of Roman origin, though no traces of this period remain today, this area of great beauty was home to Christian settlers before the arrival of Berber troops in the VII century.
Of the castle-fortress that once dominated this mountain landscape, only the tower now remains, rising majestically above Yunquera itself and affording views of its breathtaking natural setting.
