History and Timeline of Alhaurin el Grande

The first view the approaching traveller has of this village is of a succession of market gardens, as fertile as they are well tended, that descend in terraced steps into the valley where they mingle with extensive citrus plantations (oranges and lemons), olive groves, orchards and wheat fields that form a leafy and unbroken green carpet through which meanders the River Fahala.
 
The urban part of the municipality, which sits on the north slope of the Mijas mountain range, has the uneven surface to be expected in an area of such steep terrain. Thus, some of its streets have picturesque crooks and turns to make climbing them a bit easier.
 
It is known that this part of the province of Malaga has been inhabited by man at least since the Neolithic age -proven by some stone axes found at Huertas Altas- and that in succession the Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans passed through here. It was the Romans who had the most influence.
 
The arches that remain from an aqueduct near Fuente Lucena, or Fuente de los Doce Caņos, as it is also known, on the road to Coin are from the Roman era, as are several water tanks. An alabaster statue and several coins of Dioclecianus have been found in this same place, while Tuscan column capitals have been discovered at the El Tesoro farming area.
 
It was under Arabic domination, though, that the village took shape on its modern location and achieved greater economic power based on well-planned use of the water for irrigation. As is the case with so many other villages in Andalusia the name of this one, Alhaurin, also comes from the Arabic. During the Muslim period a fortress was built at this place on the spot where the Encarnacion church now stands, and there were several others scattered about its municipal territory. The Arco del Cobertizo (El Cobertizo Arch) was also built during this period.
 
After the conquest by Christian troops in 1487 which was quite bloody, according to some reports-the customary division of the lands was carried out among the new Christian settlers. Their descendants, not wanting to be dependent on anyone else, purchased its jurisdiction in 1634. The coat of arms of the villa (royal burgh) includes the Toison de Oro (Order of the Golden Fleece), granted by Carlos V.

Tourist Information

Town Hall, Plaza del Convento, s/n. 29120
   Telephone: 952 491 275
   Fax: 952 490 252