Frigiliana (Axarquia, Spain) by Ashton Davies

 

Frigiliana is a typical 'Pueblo Blanco'. Originally Moorish, its hill top position provides stunning views of the fertile valley and the sea below. The majority of the village is pedestrianised, and its many 'sugar cube' houses are characterised by brightly painted doors and windows; flowers stream down steps, and tumble over window sills and wrought iron railings. This is still an authentic working village despite the tourism, and most houses are owned by locals. You will often see donkeys, laden down with farm produce on their way to market.

Parapets, cool courtyards and water features provide clear evidence of its Moorish past, and in 1569 it was the scene of a major battle which resulted in the Moors being expelled by the Christian forces.The ruins of the Moorish castle remain at the top of the village. The sad irony is that for three centuries the village had been known as the 'village of three cultures' because of the peaceful co-existence of Jews, Muslims and Christians.

The tangle of narrow cobbled streets is full of small restaurants and bars, all serving local specialities in a friendly atmosphere. Many of them enjoy superb views of countryside, sea and mountains, situated as the village is on the southern slopes of the Almijara-Tejeda Mountain range, and surrounded by a protected national park and nature reserve.

 

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