Orgiva
Orgiva is the capital of Las Alpujarras, situated on the Costa Tropical, in the province of Granada. It’s a wonderfully, cosmopolitan town, with many nationalities living together, in quite a bohemian atmosphere.
In a fertile valley of the Guadalfeo River, Orgiva sits at 450 metres and has a milder climate than many other places in Las Alpujarras. The surrounding landscape is blanketed with olive, lemon and orange groves.
Orgiva attracts those looking for an alternative lifestyle or holiday location; indeed a well-established settlement of tepees is located is on the outskirts of town, while at Orgiva’s weekly marke, there is a whole variety of Ecological and New Age wares for sale.
History
The early origins of the town appear to be during the Moorish occupation, when Orgiva was given to Boabdil, the dethroned Moorish king. Later the town was strategically important in the war between the Catholic monarchs and the Moriscos, the expelled Moors, who were finally overthrown in 1609.
About town
Orgiva has a wonderfully eclectic mix of architectural styles, traditional Alpujarran, combined with some modern features and buildings. The weekly market is held on Thursdays, and there is a Tourist Information Office, where you can find what’s going on when and where.
Orgiva has excellent amenities, as it’s a commercial centre for the region. There are supermarkets, banks, chemists, medical and some wonderful restaurants and bars.
The pretty Plaza de Alpujarras has pathways displaying tiled pictures of several villages in Las Alpujarras.
Cultural attractions
The Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Expectacion is a twin-spire church, which dates from the 16th century. There is also an old white-washed church at the top of the town, called Ermita de San Sebastian.
Natural surroundings
Orgiva is set in a valley surrounded by forests with the Rio Chico running through it, it’s an excellent location if you are interesting in hiking or rambling. The village has amazing views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Lujar, and Sierra Contravesia.
Cuisine
Typical cuisine of the region is based on hearty, rustic cooking; lots of stews, trout, rabbit and goat
dishes.
One delicious speciality of the region is a dish called Plato Alpujarreño, which is literally a plate of eggs, fried peppers, black pudding, sausage, cured ham and fried potatoes; it’s a bit like a Spanish all-day breakfast, delicious!
Climate
Orgiva has a wonderful climate, although slightly milder than the rest of the region; it boasts skies
so clear that you will marvel at the amount of stars you can see at night, with a micro climate which means the sun shines nearly all year round.
Its altitude means that during winter, nights and often days, can get quite chilly, but wrap up warn
and enjoy the landscape, which is just as stunning in winter, as in the summer.
