Itrabo

Map of Itrabo

Upcoming events in Itrabo

In 3 weeks (Monday, Apr. 5th 2010)
Fiesta de vino
In 24 weeks (Monday, Aug. 30th 2010)
Fiesta Senora de la Salud

A small village just a few kilometres from Salobreña, Ítrabo has a population of around 2,000 many of whom are still employed in agriculture in the area, in particular the cultivation of tomatoes, avocados and grapes. The town itself has as an unmistakably north-African feel with its flat roofed, white washed houses that huddle tightly onto the hillside. View from Otívar towards Sierra de Cázulas

View from Otívar towards Sierra de Cázulas

Author: Mark Wijnen

History

Although a small in size Ítrabo has a long history starting with the arrival of the Phoenicians who settled in the area due its fertile soil, fresh water and the proximity of the sea. A sea faring nation the Phoenicians established a trade network that spanned much of the Mediterranean and it was during this expansion that Ítrabo was born. A small farming settlement continued until the arrival of the Moors in the 12th Century. With their superior knowledge of irrigation the Arabs improved the primitive irrigation systems and created an extensive canal network which fed orchards and crops throughout the region. In Ítrabo in particular the Moors brought new varieties of vine enabling the production of more diverse wines. After a period of instability and war during the 15th Century, the Catholic Kings declared their conquest of the Moors and expelled them from the region. This expulsion marked the depopulation of Ítrabo, along with other villages in the area, which was further exacerbated by repeated attacks by pirates. Today Ítrabo remains secondary to its coastal neighbours, Salobreña and Molvizar, although the cultivation of tropical fruits, such as mangos, nisbros and avocados, and the influx of tourists and foreign workers have swelled the village's numbers a little.

Attractions

In addition to festivals during August and February, Ítrabo also celebrates Culture week each April; an event that includes a wine festival in which local wines and foods are enjoyed. Without doubt the most important historical site in Ítrabo is the main church, la iglesia de 'Nuestra Señora del Carmen' and the Hermitage of the 'Virgen de la Salud' that flanks it. Built in the 17th Century, the church and hermitage house the image of the saint which is paraded through the village during festivals. Also of note is the town's pretty fountain and public wash place which is still used as a meeting place by many inhabitants.