Alpandeire clings to the steep southern side of the Genal valley, very near the source of the river that names the valley. Many springs below the village feed the Genal, which is one of the most important rivers in the region and the subject of no little ecological campaigning. The pueblo itself is 694 metres above sea level and is dominated by the Jaraspetar peak of nearly 5,000 feet. Alpandeire covers 31.3 square kilometres, but its population is only 330 and falling.

The name is derived from a Morisco corruption of ‘El Pandero’, which was changed by Christian converts from El into the Arabic Al. As in so many of these small white villages, this was once again a settlement of Moorish origin. However, though the Romans seem to have neglected the area, dolmens (Stone Age burial chambers), can be found in the north of the municipal district.

The recent history of this village is linked to the figure of Francisco Tomás de San Juan Bautista Márquez Sánchez, Friar Leopoldo of Alpandeire, who was born here in 1866 and devoted his life to helping those who were most in need. The devotion to this Capuchín monk on the part of the people, who attribute many favours and miracles to him, has but grown with time and both his tomb in Granada and the house where he was born are visited by many people.

Due to numerous streams such as the Audalaza, Jandaque and La Fuente that cross this territory there are several places around the village where flowing waters, especially during times of abundant rain, have helped form sites of exceptional beauty such as El Pozancón, Los Huertos and Finca de Las Amarillas.

Monuments:

the San Antonio de Padua church, the house where the Friar Leopoldo was born, Antiguo Pósito (Old Municipal Granary), El Chorreón waterfall

How to Get There

To get to Alpandeire from the Western Costa del Sol you must start from San Pedro de Alcántara towards Ronda on the A-376. About 12 kilometres short of Ronda take the MA-525, which at Cartajima becomes the MA-518, to Júzcar. You must continue from Júzcar to Faraján on the MA-517, and from the latter locality, you will get to Alpandeire by the MA-516. It is really the same road but it changes its designation depending on the municipality it is crossing.

In addition, from the Western Costa del Sol you can go to Manilva by the AP-7 or the old N-340 expressway and take the A-377 to Gaucín. At this place get onto the A-369, which passes through Algatocín, Benadalid and Atajate. Some 9 kilometres from the last-named village turn onto the MA-515, which leads to Alpandeire.

If you are travelling to Alpandeire from the Eastern Costa del Sol, you must of necessity pass through the city of Málaga and take the A-357 towards Cártama and continue on to Ronda. From this latter city, take the A-376 towards San Pedro de Alcántara. After travelling about four kilometres on this road, turn onto the A-369, and then make another turn, this time onto the MA-515 and thus to Alpandeire.