ALPUJARRAS & TREVELEZ CURED HAM The Alpujarras are located between the Sierra Nevada and Lujar and Gador mountain ranges, opening up to the Mediterranan Sea from the Mulhacen, the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula. Scattered little villages sit over colorful and steeped hills between steep slopes and narrow gorges. Although inhabited by Phoenicians and Romans, its gastronomy, watering system and even its name have a strong Arab influence due to the 8 years of Arab domination. Isolated and with a difficult accesss over the centuries, this steep area remains almost virgin, as if time had stood still. Its whitwashed houses spilled down the green slopes. The beauty of this villages is only one of its many attractions. The Poqueira precipice, where Pampaneira, Bubion and Capileira villages are, is a wonderful and awe-inspiring place. The novelist Pedro Antonio de Alarcón dedicated its first Spanish-language travel book to these villages and Gerald Brenan described its excelences in Al Sur de Granada. For the poet Federico Garcia Lorca it was instead The Nowhere Land Our route includes probably the most iconic 7 villages of this area in the following order: (659 m) Lanjarón: Best know for its mineral springs. Its name stems from the arab word Al- Lancharon ( Spring place ).
Itinerary: Tablate Bridge (A well-preserved, Nasrid Style and unique bridge witness of a fierce battle between Christians and moors), Sight of the Arab castle, Barrio hondillo, Sta. Ana square and Encarnacion Parrish of 16 th century. (1058m) Pampaneira: Its name stems from the latin Word Pampinus, meaning vine leaf and refers to the thickness of its vegetation. Its varied handcrafts are well-renowned, with the jarapa (Handcraft rug) as its star product. Itinerary: Mountain Interpretation Centre, Federico Garcia Lorca passage, Calle del Agua Street and Chumpaneira Fountain. (1300m) Bubión: One of the most beautiful villages in the Alpujarras. On a clear day, you can see even Africa across the Mediterranean sea and the fishing boats. Every corner in Bubion is a typical postcard of Las Alpujarras. Itinerary: Route along the high, middle and low quarters, Handcrafted fabrics workshop, Church square and House-museum Alpujarreña. (1436m) Capileira: Its name stems from the latin Word capillaris-e meaning most elevated point. Due to its impregnable location, it was one of the latest strongholds to be conquered by the Arabs, then by the Christians. During the Nasrid period it was part of the Poqueira administrative division or Taha. Capileira was the setting for the battles between Boabdil and its uncle El Zagal. After Granada s Christian occupation, its muslim population kept inhabiting the place until the 1568 rebellion where the Moorish were ousted by Phillip II.
Itinerary: Sightseeing points overlooking the Poqueira Precipice (1303m) Pórtugos: The origin of Pórtugos as an urban center dates back to the Roman Empire era, as its latin name Portus implies, meaning Crossing point. Its Bitter Fountain, called El Chorreon, is what gives this town, embedded in an idyllic scenery, its poularity. A beautiful reddish waterfall, owing its colour to the iron-rich waters, carves a deep cavity in the rock and is surrounded by centenary trees. Itinerary: Fuente Agria.
(1476m) Trevélez: Spain s highest village, also know as Ham Town since Isabel II in 1862 gave her recognition to the town for having a superior quality ham meats as seen in its Town Hall. Itinerary: Ham Dryingplace and Trevelez square Situated on the side of the mountain of Mulhacén, among ravines and hilltops, Trevélez is the ideal place for go hiking.the township of Trevélez is a part of the Sierra Nevada Nature Reserve, located on the northern slope. The city centre is divided into three clearly differentiated areas: the higher, middle, and lower quarters. It continues down to the banks of the Trevélez river, where trouts are plentiful, and the spectacular high-mountain scenery attracts and seduces every visitor.
Ham of Trevelez The particular features of this cured ham are due to its special curing, carried out in unique climatic conditions, as Trevélez is one of the highest villages in Spain. Trevélez hams are guaranteed by the Food, Fisheries and Agriculture Ministry s Specific Quality Designation, and controlled by the Regulatory Council. Trevélez hams with designation only come from pigs of the Landrace, Duroc-Jersey and Large-white varieties, or from crossbreeds between them. The curing process can only take place in eight districts of the High Alpujarra (Granada Province), in curing barns over 1,200m above sea level. The curing process uses neither preservatives nor additives, and takes 14-24 months. The result is a delicate, tasty ham, with a low salt content and fat of a sticky consistency. Visit to a cured ham factory We will visit to one of the oldest and more renowned Ham Drying rooms in Trevelez. This is a special visit due to not being part of the original touristic circuit, the owners of the place will show it specially for our clients in a private and informal manner. The daughter of the
owner will carry out the explanations in English for them. They can observe the hanging hams as they get dry as well as the different stages they go through, while being given explanations about the process of salting and curing as well as the differences between the different sorts of hams: Serrano ham Cellar ham Iberian ham This ham factory is the only one in Trevelez that produces the ham and the sausages with Iberian pig that it is the best.
Ham cutting course & tasting After the visit to the drying room, they will get some lessons on how to properly cut a ham carried out by an expert awarded with a Golden Knife (Biggest accolade in this field). The lessons will take place in the very same facilities of the restaurant, in the upper floor with big windows and stunning views to the mountains They will have for the course several hams of different types so they will be able to taste the difference. The ham while the group is eating in the restaurant will be sliced and every client will have a piece of ham of around 200 grams packed to take it back home
Lunch in a typical restaurant of the area After the ham cutting lessons and tasting, the guests will be moving on to the table set up for them where a typical lunch from the Alpujarras with authentic dishes of the cuisine of this area, such as the famous plato alpujarreño and the Migas ( breadcrumbs ) The restaurant boasts some of the best meats in the whole Alpujarra region and they will offer a traditional menu, albeit of the maximum quality.
DETALLES RESERVA Fecha: 16 de junio de 2018 Precio por persona en base a 50 pax: 57,00 IVA incluído Este precio incluye: - Autobús de lujo 55 plazas - 1 guía top alta gama de habla castellano - Visita secadero con la propietaria del mismo - Degustación de diferentes jamones - Clase de corte con cortador profesional - Almuerzo típico Alpujarreño Precio en base a 20 pax: 70,00 IVA incluído Este precio incluye lo mismo que para 50 pero el traslado se realizará en un micro de 22 plazas Nota: para tener más calidad sería mejor llevar dos guías para en las paradas dividir el grupo y que no sea un grupo tan numeroso, y luego en Trevélez 25 irían primero al secadero y luego a visitar el pueblo y al revés y luego se encontrarían en el restaurante. El precio para un guía extra habrá que sumar 6,00 iva incluído ALMUERZO ALPUJARREÑO MENÚ 1 Sopa de picadillo *** Plato alpujarreño *** Crema de almendras *** Vino tinto de la zona y agua MENÚ 2 Aperitivos centro mesa Ración de migas alpujarreñas Ración de jamón de Trevélez Ensalada de frutas de temporada *** Plato alpujarreño o trucha Postres caseros: crema de almendras o tarta de queso Vino,cerveza o refrescos. Suplemento 14,00 IVA incluído Nota: pasaremos en caso de necesitarlo más opciones de menús y el en caso de querer precio más económico se podría hacer quitando la clase de corte y el regalo del jamón.