Costa del Sol/Living Inland and Alhaurin el Grande

The small picturesque traditionally Spanish pueblo of Alhaurin El Grande is situated at the foot of the northern face of the Sierra de Mijas, looking out over the spectacular Guadalhorce Valley.

 Over the last few years the inland towns of Costa Del Sol, such as Alhaurin El Grande, Alhaurin de la Torre, Cartama, Monda, Guaro, Tolox, and Coin have seen a huge increase in the numbers of foreign residents and indeed nowadays all the above towns have thriving British and International communities, both living and working in the villages.

The benefits of living inland are of course tasting the real Spain. Here you will find friendly welcoming people and a traditional way of life, but the amenities are often less accessible than down on the Coast and English is much less widely spoken by the locals. But for many the lifestyle up in the mountains is unbeatable, and of course if you fancy a daytrip to the beach, the coast is only a 30 to 45 minute drive away, depending on which village you choose.

In fact many British and International families find living inland and working on the coast the perfect way to mix the two, and the short commute down through the mountains a pleasant way to start and end the day.

Alhaurin was a town originally built by the Arabs who named it after the two valleys. There are many Roman and Arab remains in the area such as important military architecture based on stations and defence towers, of which only a few fragments are left today.

The town extends on one side and from its main street others branch out, flanked by whitewashed houses and many coloured plinths. The most important monuments are the parish church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, built at the beginning of the 16th century over the site of a fort, although it suffered various modifications in the 18th and 19th century. There is also the county council, in the Plaza de la Constitución, which occupies the old sight of the convent-hospital of Santa Catalina, where the Palace of Montellano is located.

Some other places of notable interest are the archaeological sites and remains of Arabic origin such as the old fort of Fahala, the watchtower of Ubrique, and Roman remains such as in the Fuente del Sol and the Moor mill of the Corchos. On the road to Mijas, there is the chapel of the Cristo de la Agonía, from the 18th century, and at the edge of the Coín to Málaga road is the fountain of the Doce Caños or Fuente Lucena.

Local industries thrive inland, and you can find specialists in pita fibre, esparto grass, espadrilles and metal forging, along side home made lace work.

Plus of course you can sample the delights of the local gastronomy with typical dishes such as porridge with spices, patties, broths, garlic soup and oil cakes!

With inland living becoming more and more popular and routes to the coast quickly accessible, it is now easier than ever to live the Spanish pueblo dream.

 Fancy buying a bar in Alhaurin El Grande? Take a look at our selection of bars, businesses and homes for sale on the Costa del Sol....