What to see in Salobreña – discover the best to see in this wonder
Visit Salobreña the best things to see and do
In this article you will find all the information you need to see the best of Salobreña :
- A few words about Salobreña and its origins
- What to see in Salobreña?
- What to do in the province of Granada?
- Where is Salobreña located?
- Find accommodation by the sea
- The Salobrena Fair
- What to see around Salobreña?
- Some useful links (rent a car, other ideas for visits)
- A selection of experiences to discover in the area
A few words about Salobreña and its origins
Salobreña is a beautiful white village on the Costa Tropical, dominated by a hilltop castle from the Al-Andalus period.
This small town is about 45 minutes from Granada and 1 hour from Malaga. It also benefits from being close to the Sierra Nevada, which makes it possible to go skiing in 1 hour’s drive, between November and April!
Salobreña’s origins
The site has been inhabited since ancient times.
Its castle was first a Phoenician and then a Roman site. Then the Arabs built a fortress, which was then modified again after the conquest by the Catholic kings.
In fact, the name of this small town reflects the periods of its history…
Salambina in Phoenician times became Segalvina in Roman times, and then Shalubānya under Al-Andalus. However, the name of the city was pronounced Shalubīnya in Andalusian Arabic. From this dialect, the city later became Salobreña!
What to see in Salobreña?
1 – The fabulous fortress castle
2 – The boveda
3 – Streets of the historic quarter
4 – Nuestra Señora del Rosario church
5 – The beaches of Salobrena
The fabulous fortress castle
This visit is a must, with a mixture of buildings from different periods. The remains of the Al-Andalus period, particularly the Nasrid period of the kingdom of Granada, are still very numerous.
This fortress is made up of 3 defensive enclosures. The last two were built after the reconquest.
During the Al-Andalus period, this fortress served as a resting place for the kings as well as a prison for themselves!
Some examples of imprisoned kings:
- Yusuf III, from 1397 to 1408 (who later became king, following a “legendary” chess game with a prison guard! )
- Muhammad VIII in 1431, and executed by Muhammad IX…who had also been imprisoned there.
- In the 15th century, King Sa
d al-Mustaîn (Ciriza) was thrown into prison by his son Muley Hacen who took his throne.
2 things to know about Muley Hacen:
- He was the father of Boabdil who was the last king of the kingdom of Granada at the time of the reconquest by the Catholic kings in 1492.
- From Salobreña you can see the Mulhacen, the highest mountain in the whole Iberian Peninsula with 3479 metres of altitude. According to legend, Muley Hacen asked to be buried on the highest point of the peninsula when he died, so that no one would set foot on it! The mountain that bears his name today.
In the castle you can still see an aljibe (water tank) and the floor of the old Arab baths.
The remains of the circular oven can also be seen during the visit. It had two functions: to heat water for the hot and warm water room, and to heat air for the wet area.
It is possible to visit the castle every day. The entrance fee is 4 euros.
The boveda
It is a passage with a medieval vault above.
This passage linked the Albaycín neighbourhood to the old Medina, which was then the heart of commercial activity.
The streets of the historic district
A walk through the narrow streets of Salobreña is an invitation to travel!
From some streets you can see the Sierra Nevada or the sea!
Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church
This 16th century Mudejar-style church was built over a former mosque.
Its crenellated bell tower is a curiosity. In fact, the tower where the bell tower is located was part of the defence system against attacks by Berber pirates.
The door on the southern frontage is in Arabic style,
Salobreña’s beaches
This small town offers several beautiful beaches to its visitors. The one at the bottom of the town, with a large rock, is beautiful, with crystal clear water that invites you to swim!
What to do in the province of Granada?
Below you will find a number of ideas for activities and visits, classified by theme. You can book them online today.
The +: the activities can all be cancelled up to 24 hours before the scheduled date
Where is Salobreña
Find accommodation in Salobreña
The Salobrena Fair
What to see around Salobreña
The former sugar cane factory built in 1861, which closed in 2006, is a site of interest.
Sugar cane cultivation has been a powerful economic engine for centuries. It was the Arabs who imported it from Asia under Al-Andalus. This factory is now classified as a property of cultural interest in Andalusia.
A few kilometres away is Nerja with its beautiful beaches.
There is also one of the most beautiful white villages in Spain, Frigiliana.
Closer by is Almuñecar, the town of the Sexitanos, where you can discover a wealth of Roman remains.
Some useful links (car hire, ideas for visits)
Easy and economical bookings
If you are in Andalucia as part of a tour with several major cities to visit, here are some links that may be of interest:
Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is a city full of treasures to discover and monuments to visit.
Here you will find everything you can see in Seville in 3 days. And for those who will stay longer you will also find information on secret Seville and the Santa Cruz and Triana districts.
Cadiz
Visit Cadiz, a city with an incredible past and great beauty, on the Costa del la Luz.
Malaga
When you reach the Costa del Sol you will find in this link all must-sees in Malaga :
Granada
Discover what to see in Granada, and visit the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts:
Cordoba
And of course, visit Cordoba, the caliphate city, and the Juderia district
A selection of experiences to discover in the area
If you’d like to see more of the beautiful sites, here’s a link to other blog posts about Andalucia.
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