La Herradura (Almuñécar)

Map of La Herradura (Almuñécar)

Upcoming events in La Herradura (Almuñécar)

Today (Monday, Nov. 17th 2008)
Andrs Segovia competition
Today (Saturday, Dec. 6th 2008)
Artisan Fair ( in aid of AECC)
In 8 weeks (Monday, Mar. 19th 2012)
San Jose

While it began as a satellite of Almuñécar, La Herradura now has become a popular town in its own right due its long sandy beach and excellent location. The word herradura itself means horseshoe, an excellent description of the shape of the bay which the town curls around. Thought by many to be one of the prettiest bays in Spain, two huge natural promontories, the Punta de la Mona and Cerro Gordo, protect the 2 km long sand beach which has a large selection of chiringuitos, or beach bars, and a number of water sports clubs. Unlike many areas along the coast, development has been restricted in height and you can still enjoy the contours of the natural setting. In recent years the village has expanded eastwards along the shore to the foot of the Punta de la Mona, fronted by a procession of restaurants, bars, hostels and shops. PUESTA DE SOL EN LA PLAYA DE LA HERRADURA-GRANADA

PUESTA DE SOL EN LA PLAYA DE LA HERRADURA-GRANADA

Author: gorostiza

History

Like much of Costa Granada, La Herradura has been inhabited since ancient times. Archeologists have found evidence of Bronze Age activity, and finds which reveal that both Phoenician and Roman colonists founded small agricultural settlements there. The forerunner of modern day La Herradura itself is thought to have begun in the 7th Century when Christians of the Visigothic era established a small community known as Jate on the River Jate around 2km from todays town. Renamed La Alquera (farmstead) de Jate, by the Moors, the village thrived for more than 700 years until the Reconquest of the area by the Christians. Following the defeat of the Moors and the Arab Rebellions of the Alpujarras in the 16th century, local Christians from Almuñécar attacked La Herradura because of their fear of the small Arab community which still lived there. The order to expel all Moors from Spain made by Philip III in 1609 then finally sealed the fate of Xate which, according to one chronicler, had fallen into ruins by the mid-17th century. La Herradura remained a small fishing and farming community right up until the second half of the twentieth century when tourism brought new money and development to the town. This remains true today as the majority of the townspeople still work in the areas three main industries, tourism, construction and agriculture.

Attractions

La Herradura boasts several attractions both ancient and modern. One of the best known of these is the Paseo Martimo de Andrs Segovia, a promenade which stretches the full length of the bay. Leading off from the Paseo is a narrow road which leads to the Castillo de la Herradura. In addition to the beach front bars and shops La Herradura also has a camp site, dive centre and hostal for backpackers. In recent years the town itself has become flanked by a series of urbanizations, the oldest of which is known as Las Palomas. Beside this, creeping still higher up the flanks of Cerro Gordo, a big development is under way which will eventually be the largest in the immediate area, containing hotel, sports facilities, shopping and luxury residences. As with all Spanish towns there are several festivals during the year. The first of these is on the 19th March to celebrate La Herraduras patron saint, Saint Joseph. This is followed on 16 July by a festival in honour of the Virgen del Carmen, when the statue of the Virgin is taken through the town and on by boat to the bahia. Three days before Christmas the town then celebrates El rosario de la Aurora (the rise of the dawn) with an early morning procession through the town.