The Village of Bubión

Bubión, perched high in the Alpujarras of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the Granada province of Spain, is a very attractive small mountain village with stunning views in all directions and unique stone architecture. To the north, the highest mountains on the Spanish mainland, Veleta and Mulhacén, rise up dramatically and for much of the year are snowcapped. To the south, the Mediterranean Sea quietly shimmers beyond the coastal mountain ranges of Lújar and the Contraviersa. The Rif Mountains of Morocco are sometimes visible from here, particularly in the evening light of autumn and winter.

A small museum located in the village square, Casa Alpujarreña, houses interesting artifacts from times gone by. The pretty parochial church, built in the 16th Century, is built on the site of the town's original mosque. It is constructed in the mudéjar style and its tower was used as a defensive structure by Abén Humeya's partisans during the storied Morisco revolts. The two ancient lavaderos (public wash rooms) have recently been restored.

A popular long-distance footpath runs through Bubión. In addition, a network of beautiful walking trails link the three villages of Capileira, Bubión, and Pampaneira and the Poqueira Gorge, ascending into the Sierra Nevada mountains and providing an approach to the towering mountain Mulhacén.

All around is unspoiled nature: chestnut, walnut, oak, cherry and mulberry trees. One can see mountain life as it was lived in the past, with locals quietly tending their "huertos" (little vegetable gardens) perched on the terraces, leading flocks of goats and sheep to pasture, and returning home from work in the fields with their mules.

In recent years rural and eco-tourism have developed and is now the mainstay of the economy. There is one major hotel, the Villa Turistica de Bubión, and an excellent-value hostal, Las Terrazas.

Main town fiesta dates are the weekend closest to 20th of January and the penultimate weekend of every August.

At 1,350 meters above sea level (4.430 feet), Bubión enjoys clear air with low humidity, mild summers, and cold winters.

The History of Bubión

Bubión was founded in Roman times for mining purposes in the high mountains, After the invasion by the Moors in the 7th Century, it was ruled under the authority of Ugíjar. In the 16th century the village supported Abén Humeya in his revolt against the oppression of the Morisco population, a group who had been compelled to convert from Islam to Christianity in order to avoid expulsion to North Africa.

Because of the Moorish history, the architecture of Bubión is similar to that of the Berbers in the Atlas mountains of North Africa. Characterized by mossy flat roofs and tall chimneys capped by broad slate stones that look like hats, the houses spill down the steep mountainside, connected by quaint walkways and winding, cobble-stoned streets.

Where is Bubión located?

Bubión is located near the Mediterranean coast, specifically the Costa Tropical. It is close to the city of Granada and to the primary Costa Tropical towns of Almuñécar, Motril, and Salobreña. It is easily accessible from these larger towns by well maintained paved roads that connect with major highways.

Bubión is a very popular tourist destination for both Spaniards and foreigners because of its architecture, ancient Alpujarras culture, vistas, and proximity to famed nature preserves. The area encompassing the three neighboring villages of Capileira, Bubión, and Pampaneira (each about one kilometer apart), have been designated a Conjunto Histórico Artístico by the Spanish government, an area of particular artistic and historical importance.

Getting There