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Alhaurín de la Torre is an appealing town located just 15 kilometres inland from Málaga city and only eight kilometres from the airport.
Lying at the entrance to the Guadalhorce valley, between the Guadalhorce river and the Sierra de Mijas, it has traditionally been a prosperous place, with agriculture as the main source of income. The town is surrounded by citrus, subtropical fruit and olive groves, and there are several plant nurseries in the area.
Today residential tourism is also an important feature of the local economy, and a substantial number of foreigners have acquired properties in the area, as well as people from the provincial capital. Attractive modern developments and smart villas have sprung up on the town’s outskirts, although Alhaurín de la Torre’s old town’s Moorish roots are still evident, with streets characterised by two storey white washed houses.
The origins of Alhaurín de la Torre go back much further though. There is evidence of prehistoric settlements in the area, of Phoenician homesteads in around 1000BC, and later of Roman villas.
Numerous pieces of ceramics, earthenware bowls, wall paintings, coins and other items dating from the Roman period have been found in and around Alhaurín de la Torre. And among the area’s most important historical sites are the archaeological remains in the Estación de la Alquería area,which date back to the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. Also, the Cortijo de Mollina, where there are remains of a Moorish farmstead and tower, as well as Roman remains. There are also important remains in the El Cardón Valley and Carrera de Caballos areas, and around the Casa de Torrijos, in Torrealquería.
The Moors called the town Albarracín, which then became Alhaurín de la Torre following the Reconquest in 1485.
Within the town inself the 18th century San Sebastián Parish Church in the Plaza de la Concepción is the most important place of interest. A church was originally built in 1505 at the request of Queen Isabel the Catholic, and on the existing site in 1610. But it was destroyed some years later by an earthquake and later rebuilt in a neoclassic style. It is built in the shape of the Latin cross with three naves and two bell towers, and has a Mudejar coffered ceiling.
Also of interest is the Cristo del Cardón Chapel at the town’s entrance and the 19th century San Francisco de Paula “El Alamillo” hermitage near to the Alamillo finca. San Francisco de Paula is considered the protector of the local countryside and traditionally there are processsions to the hermitage in times of drought.
The Santo Cristo del Cardón Niche in los Callejones has its origins in a tradition going back to a supposed miracle in 1484, when a painted wooden figure of Christ saved a Christian soldier from death. The niche is visited in the evening of Easter Wednesday as part of the Stations of the Cross procession.
The late 18th century Arcos de Zapata aquaduct was constructed to carry water from the Fuente del Rey spring in Churriana to Málaga city, but in fact never served its intended purpose due to pressures from local landowners.
There’s an interesting history behind the Casa Refugio de Torrijos. In 1831 general José María de Torrijos rebelled against the absolute monarchy of Fernando VII, calling for the restoration of the 1812 constitution. His plan failed, and he and his troops fled to Alhaurín de la Torre and took refuge in the Hacienda de la Alquería, which was owned by the Count of Mollina. They were later caught and shot on the Carmen beach in Málaga.
The Albaicín caves in the heart of the municipality served as a refuge for people arriving from Málaga after the Reconquest in 1487. There are 13 dwellings within the caves, which are currently being studied and catalogued to evaluate whether they should be renovated and protected.
The El Retiro gardens are well worth a visit. Centred around a restored 17th century manor house built for Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás, Bishop of Málaga, there is a fascinating variety of plant and wildlife, ranging from semi-desert to tropical swamp. The manor house at its centre has also been impressively restored.