Pampaneira

About Pampaneira

Pampaneira stands at 1,058 metres in the Barranco de Poqueira, the valley cut by the Río Poqueira into the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada. Its name, like other Alpujarra names ending in -eira, predates the Castilian conquest. After the Morisco revolt of 1568–1571 its people were expelled and settlers came from northern Spain. It is part of the Conjunto Histórico of the Barranco de Poqueira and has about 310 residents.

Life centres on Plaza de la Libertad and the Iglesia de la Santa Cruz, built in 1726–1730 with a Mudéjar coffered ceiling. Lanes climb past tinaos (covered passages), flat launa roofs and chimneys to the Lavadero del Cerrillo washhouse and a spring of fizzy water. Shops sell jarapa rugs from local looms, and the national park information point on the square has a free exhibition.

Granada is about 70 km away, 1 hour 15 minutes by car via Lanjarón; allow two hours from Málaga. Alsa runs three buses a day from Granada. Use the free car parks at either end, as the centre is pedestrian, steep, stepped and cobbled, unsuitable for wheelchairs. Allow two hours, or a day if you walk the marked path up to Bubión and Capileira. It suits walkers and craft shoppers.

Spring and autumn are best. The Santa Cruz fiestas fall around 3 May and the chestnut Mauraca at the start of November. Try the plato alpujarreño and chocolate from Abuela Ili. At weekends arrive before 11:00, as the car parks fill.

Pampaneira in pictures

What you’ll find

• Bus connectionPublic transportBuy
• Car parkParkingFree
• ChurchChurch visitFree
• FestivalAnnual festivalFree
• Guided tourGuided tourBook
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• Historic centreOld town walkFree
• Local craftsCraft shoppingBuy
• Local foodLocal cuisineBuy
• Moorish quarterMoorish heritage walkFree
• Tourist officeVisitor informationFree
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

Pampaneira is the start of the Poqueira trio: Bubión (1 km) lies just above on the same slope, and Capileira (2 km) is the highest of the three, both linked by a waymarked footpath. Across the mountain, Trevélez (11 km) is famous for its ham, and the Vallejo Ham Museum (11 km) there explains how it is cured. On the road east towards Pitres, the ruined Nasrid Castillo de Poqueira makes a viewpoint over the gorge, and the tiny hamlets of La Taha are good for gentle walks. Heading down to the coast, the Olive Oil Museum (20 km) at Vélez de Benaudalla is a convenient stop on the road to Motril.