Alpandeire: things to see and do in the Serrania de Ronda

Alpandeire is a small village in the Genal Valley, in the Serrania de Ronda, best known as the birthplace of Fray Leopoldo. Its white houses, narrow streets and church of San Antonio de Padua form a village centre you can explore on foot, while the surrounding paths let you extend your visit with a walk in the countryside.

The landscape varies across the municipality. Rocky ground and scrub predominate in the north, while the south has more woodland, vegetable gardens and farmland. This mix of heritage and countryside lets you spend your visit exploring both the village and its surroundings.

History of Alpandeire

Prehistoric remains within the municipality, including the megalithic tombs of Encinas Borrachas, show that people lived here long before the present village developed. Alpandeire’s village centre has its roots in the period of al-Andalus, whose influence is still visible in the street layout.

Following the conquest of Ronda in 1485, Alpandeire came under Christian rule. The expulsion of the Moriscos, Muslims who had converted to Christianity and their descendants, and the subsequent resettlement transformed the village. In 1572, Philip II ordered 22 new settlers to be established in Alpandeire and Pospitar, where they were allocated houses and land.

In 1815, Ferdinand VII granted Alpandeire the status of an independent town in recognition of its conduct during the French occupation. The 19th century also left stories of banditry in the Serrania de Ronda. One local figure was Antonio Barbarán Jiménez, known as “El Barbarán”, who operated in the area during the first half of the century at the head of a band of twelve men.

What to see in Alpandeire

The church and the places associated with Fray Leopoldo are the main stops on a visit. Between them, take a walk through the old village centre, looking out for the façades and views towards the mountains.

Church of San Antonio de Padua

The church is known as the “Catedral de la Serranía”, or cathedral of the mountain region, because of its size in relation to the village. The present building dates from the 18th century and replaced an earlier church. Inside are a nave and two side aisles, all vaulted, and the font in which Fray Leopoldo was baptised. See the church on the map.

Fray Leopoldo’s birthplace and monument

Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire (1864–1956) was a Capuchin brother who spent much of his life in Granada, where he collected alms. He was beatified in 2010, and his birthplace is one of the places that draw pilgrims to the village. A visit gives an insight into his connection with Alpandeire and rural life in the mountain region. See the birthplace on the map.

Encinas Borrachas dolmens

The municipality is home to the megalithic burial ground of Encinas Borrachas, which contains several prehistoric tombs. It offers a different visit from the village centre, particularly if you are interested in archaeology and would like to learn about the earliest traces of human settlement in the area.

Walking in Alpandeire and the Genal Valley

For walks starting in Alpandeire, you can follow the paths linking the village with the surrounding farmland and other places in the mountain region. Routes vary in length and elevation gain, so choose your walk before setting off.

• Sendero de los Huertos: this path takes you through the vegetable gardens, irrigation channels and farm tracks around Alpandeire.
• Path between Atajate and Alpandeire: forms part of the Gran Senda de la Serranía de Ronda (GR 141) walking routes. The itinerary combining the Sendero de los Huertos with stage 5 is around 10 km long, runs from one endpoint to another and is rated as moderately difficult. Allow about four and a half hours for this specific itinerary and arrange your return journey.
• Fray Leopoldo route: links Jimera de Libar station, Atajate and Alpandeire, following the path associated with the brother’s journeys to his home village.

Take water and suitable footwear, and avoid the hottest hours in summer. For details of the 10 km itinerary, see the Atajate–Alpandeire route information.

If you have more days and a car, you can extend your excursions through the mountain region to the Cueva del Gato, Sierra de las Nieves National Park or Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja. These outings need their own journey and planning, whereas Alpandeire’s paths let you explore the village’s immediate surroundings.

Festivals and traditions in Alpandeire

• San Roque fair and festivities: take place in mid-August, around the patron saint’s feast day on 16 August. The programme includes processions, outdoor dances, music and community activities.
• Niño del Huerto: is celebrated on Easter Sunday. The mayordomos, the local festival organisers, arrange the celebration, during which a figure of the Christ Child is placed in a shelter made of branches in the square. The day includes an outdoor dance and a procession in which the figure of the Virgin Mary meets that of the Christ Child.
• Tribute to Fray Leopoldo: events dedicated to the brother are held around 24 June, the date of his birth.
• Virgen del Rosario: the feast day of the village’s patroness, Our Lady of the Rosary, is on 7 October.
• Summer activities: the town council organises cultural events, children’s activities and sports, with a calendar that changes each year.

If you would like your visit to coincide with a celebration, check the council’s programme for the relevant year to find the dates and planned events.

What to eat in Alpandeire

Alpandeire’s traditional cooking includes meat dishes, stews and vegetables from the surrounding countryside. Local recipes include:

• Conejo al ajillo, rabbit cooked with garlic.
• Cordero en salsa de tomate, lamb in tomato sauce, one of the village’s traditional stews.
• Hot and cold gazpacho, two distinct preparations associated with winter and summer respectively.
• Stews with wild plants, such as fennel, bladder campion, Spanish oyster thistle and asparagus, depending on the season.

Traditional sweets

Traditional baking is particularly prominent during Holy Week, with borrachuelos, pestiños, suspiros and rosquillón among the local sweets. Sun-dried figs with walnuts and dried apricots also form part of the village’s culinary traditions.

How to get to Alpandeire from Malaga

Alpandeire is reached by mountain roads. From Malaga Airport, one option is to travel along the coast to San Pedro de Alcantara and head inland on the A-397, continuing on the A-369 and MA-7307 towards Alpandeire. Journey time depends on the route and traffic. Check the itinerary before setting off and allow time for the bends on the final stretch.

From Ronda, allow around half an hour by car. Once in Alpandeire, you can explore the village centre on foot, bearing in mind the slopes and narrow streets.

Visiting Alpandeire and the surrounding area by car

A hire car is useful if you would like to combine Alpandeire with Ronda, other villages in the Genal Valley or walking routes. It lets you choose your stops and reach the starting points of walks without relying on public transport connections.

Hire a car in Malaga

Taxi or private transfer to Alpandeire

A taxi or private transfer lets you travel from the airport without driving on the mountain roads yourself. When booking, give the address of your accommodation to agree on the drop-off point.

Book a taxi or transfer

*No advance payment is required and cancellation is free. We therefore recommend booking ahead to secure vehicle availability and the price.

Travelling by public transport

To travel by train from the airport to Ronda, take the C-1 local train service (Cercanías) to Malaga María Zambrano and change there for a train to Ronda. Check Renfe’s timetable to choose a connection that fits your flight’s arrival time.

You can also take the airport buses into Malaga and continue to Ronda by bus from the coach station, which is next to María Zambrano. From Ronda, you can take a taxi to Alpandeire.

Tourist information for Alpandeire