Discover Álora's timeless charm

Álora is a charming whitewashed town nestled in the Guadalhorce Valley of  Malaga Province. The lush, fertile region is often called the orchard of Malaga, and the landscape around Álora is dotted with olive groves and orchards

The town is the perfect place for people who are seeking authenticity. 
Stepping into Plaza Fuente Arriba, we discovered Álora’s vibrant pulse under a bright Andalusian sun: children weaving through fountain sprays, merchants arranging pottery and olive-oil bottles, and café tables alive with locals sipping cortados.

Wandering the side streets branching off the plaza, we found hidden artisan shops selling hand-painted ceramics and leather goods. During our wanderings, we discovered some of the local attractions.

Historic castle:

Perched on a rocky outcrop above Álora, the Castillo de las Torres embodies Andalusia’s layered past. Originally founded by Phoenicians, it was strengthened by Romans and then rebuilt by the Moors in the 9th century, creating a fortress that has watched over the valley for over a millennium.

The castle features an inner square fortress and an outer perimeter with multiple towers, showcasing Moorish architecture. A parish church was built inside the castle on the site of the former mosque.

Walk its battlements today and you’ll trace the echoes of ancient armies, medieval sieges, and the seamless blend of military and religious architecture.

Citrus Cultivation:

Imagine standing on a sunlit terrace overlooking the valley below, where neat rows of lemon, orange, lime, and tangerine trees stretch out like a patchwork quilt. Here in the Guadalhorce, you can trace this living landscape back to Al-Andalus, when ingenious irrigation channels first turned these slopes into lush orchards.
Wander through family-run groves that still rely on spring-fed water and age-old acequias. You’ll spot terraces carved into the hillside, carefully pruned trees dripping with fruit, and local growers guiding you through their hand-harvest practices. It’s hands-on agriculture meets timeless tradition.
Taste the magic in fresh-squeezed citrus juices, sunshine-sweet marmalades, and artisanal liqueurs—all made right here where the climate gifts mild winters and sun-baked summers. Each sip tells a story: ancient Phoenician roots, Roman innovations, and Moorish mastery of water management.

Historic castle:

Perched on a rocky outcrop above Álora, the Castillo de las Torres embodies Andalusia’s layered past. Originally founded by Phoenicians, it was strengthened by Romans and then rebuilt by the Moors in the 9th century, creating a fortress that has watched over the valley for over a millennium.

The castle features an inner square fortress and an outer perimeter with multiple towers, showcasing Moorish architecture. A parish church was built inside the castle on the site of the former mosque.

Walk its battlements today and you’ll trace the echoes of ancient armies, medieval sieges, and the seamless blend of military and religious architecture.

Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación 

Perched in the heart of Álora’s Plaza Baja de la Despedida, the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation invites you into four centuries of faith, art, and community life. Its sunlit façade hints at a story that stretches from late Gothic roots through Renaissance flair to Andalusian Baroque flourish.
Step inside and you’re walking on the site of a former mosque—converted first into a Gothic chapel by the Catholic Monarchs, battered by a 17th-century earthquake, and reborn as the grand parish church completed in 1699. Every stone and arch whispers tales of reconquest, resilience, and devotion.

Museo Municipal Rafael Leria

Nestled in the 16th-century Escuela de Cristo, adjoining the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in Plaza Baja de la Despedida, the Museo Municipal Rafael Lería preserves Álora’s rich archaeological and artistic heritage.

Within the museum, you can admire over 200 artifacts displayed chronologically across five themed rooms: Prehistory, Protohistory, Roman era, Islamic period, and the Christian Reconquista.

​From stone tools and polished hand-mill grinders to Roman coinage to islamic ceramics, the museum provides you with a captivating journey through the area's continuous human presence.

Trade the bustle of the Costa del Sol for Álora’s timeless charm—here, sunlit alleys and shaded plazas hum with the same rhythms Andalusians have lived for generations.