The Fascinating History Of Olvera Within The Costa Del Sol For The Avid Visitor.
Olvera is often announced as the ‘best of the white towns’. With a population of 1200 it is larger than the majority of pueblos. Olvera is really in Cadiz Province but if staying at a Apartment in Casares it is reachable for a very special day out.
The pueblo demonstrates the traditional Spanish much loved white washed houses, steep narrow streets, churches and castle. It has more than enough for the holiday visitor. Those in the area in August will be welcomed to the local fair which is renowned for being the most lavish in the region. It lasts for some 5 nights, finishing at approximately 5am, singing and dancing, side shows, stalls – it has the lot! In the daytime the visitor can expect to be treated to football matches, clay-pigeon contests and novice bullfights to name but a few.
How Olvera came to be so named is a bit of a mystery. Some say it is very simply to do with the number of olive trees in the area. Giving perhaps some credence to this theory is the fact olive oil is one of the area’s main agricultural products. Indeed it might be that simple but others say it is to do with its Arabic history when it was called ‘Wupira’. The castle was part of Granada’s line of defence. In 1327 the pueblo was conquered by Alfonso XI.
Wherever it got its name from the pueblo is most certainly steeped in history and there has been a pueblo in its location for some 12 thousand years.
In 1983 Olvera was declared officially to be of Artistic and Historical buildings. This is a huge change however from the 1800s when the pueblo was the home of outlaws and murderers! Being such a good place to take refuge from the law a famous regional saying emerged into folklore ‘Kill your man and flee to Olvera!’ Thankfully those days are now long gone.
These days the pueblo is seen by many to be of great religious significance. A monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus perched on a natural outcrop is the focus. Many a believer has crawled on hands and knees in pilgrimage. It is to do with the vow to the popular sanctuary of the Hermitage Church of “Nuestra Señora de los Remedios” (Our lady of the Remedies). The sanctuary is situated just over a mile from Olvera on the road to Torre Alháquime. This is a unique building and well worth the visit.
Also worth a visit is the Iglesia de la Encarnación church. The church in fact hides one of the best small museums in the region.
A tourist attraction not to be missed if at all possible is the 24 mile ruta verde. A disused railway line forms the route which links Olvera to Puerto Serrano. Very simply this is an incomplete railway line and is today seen as one of the best walking experiences in Andalucía.
There are plenty of suitable Costa Del Sol Apartments in which to stay to tour the area, choose from Caseras, Calahonda, Mijas Costa, Benahavis or Benalmadena.
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