PueblosBlancosDiscoveryTours: Pizarra

Raja Ancha and to the statue of Santo Christo

Prologue:

The pueblo of Pizarra lays in the Guadalhorce valley about 30 minutes drive from Málaga and 50 minutes from Marbella. We drove from Marbella via Coin - Cartama- Campillos. It is a very scenic drive through cultivated land with ornage and olive groves and occasional wheat fields.

Right in the village centre of Pizarra you will find the recreation park of Raja Ancha. We left our car near the entrance of the park and walked up.

The hike to El Santo (statue of Christ) is roughly 4.5 km, and takes you through wooded area which gives you plenty of shade in the warmer months of year. The path is easy to follow. When reaching the top you will find a picnic ground near El Santo.

Take note that the hike is fairly steep (487 m from village to El Santo) and because of its geographical layout it is windy most of the time. But the panoramic views are well worth it.

Directions:

Take the A-355 from Marbella to Coin then turn rowards Cartama A7059.
When reaching the road junction (Coin - Màlaga - Campillos) by Cartama you will head towards Campillos A-357.
After 12 km drive along the Guadalhorce valley on the right take the turn off towards Pizarra and Alora.
The hike starts at the entrance of the recreation park of Raja Ancha in the center of the village and it is about 4,8 km to the statue of El Santo.

As you aproach the village you drive over the river Guadalhorce

which enters after 30 km into the Mediterranean by Málaga.

The entrance of the recreation park of "Raja Ancha"

The park has many trees like Eucalyptus, Oaks, Pines and more.

They say the park of Raja Ancha is the lungs of Pizarra.

Through out the park you find picnic tables and benches which look inviting if you want a rest. Also a great place for children.

As you look up to the left you get a glimps of the statue of El Santo.

The sandstone rock with its many crevises and cliffs looks quite precarious.

The mountain of Gibralmora was formed during the Miocene period.

Pizarra is named after the blackish grey rock (Gibralmora in arabic)

which translates to slate.

The view down to the village and the Guadalhorce valley.

High up ahead you see the statue of El Santo.

The path lead along the rock face to the right.

White paint signals show that you are on the right track.

We pass a stone table and some benches.

From here on a narrow path leads along the rockface and through some dense vegetation.

Some signs tell you that to El Santo is another 1,5 km.

You have two options one way direct to El Santo or to Las mesas.

We followed the Las Mesas (the tables) sign.

The source of a spring which leads through the Raja Ancha

and only carries water in the rainy months of the year.

Over the tree tops you can see the mountains of Sierra de Alcaparain near the village of Carratraca.

On the right side of Raja Ancha park we notice a natural viewpoint.

The views are stunning from here.

We look down onto the roof tops of Pizarra, far below.

We noticed that the spring flowers start to decline as we approach summer.

Who can find Esparto grass everywhere in southern Spain.

It grows over 1 meter high and it is used in many ways.

From here it is 1,1 km to El Santo.

Las mesas (Stone tables)

A nice location to take a rest.

Painted rock face.

El Santo to the left, still a long way ahead, it seems.

We get compensated with wonderful panoramic views.

The mountain of Giralmora is 490 m above sea level and consist of

752.5 hectares.

As we near the top our path joins with a service road.

From here we took the direction to Torre Arabe (moorish tower) which is to the right side of Gibralmora. You can see the radio masts on its highest point.

Rock Sea Lavender (Limonium binervosum)

As we reached the top we found ourselves on a large plateau, spread out before us.

Ruins of the Moorish tower which in its time served as watch tower between the village of Alora to the north and Cartama in the south.

El Santo is on the peak on the oposite side to the radio masts.

From up here you have 360º panoramic views.

This is an unusually looking plant.

A striking view of the statue of El Santo which is dramaticaly poised overlooking the village of Pizarra and the Valley of Guadalhorce..

On the plateau you can find a plantation of carob trees.

Helichrusum italicum

Curry Plant, Perpétua-sas-areias (Helichrysum italicum)

It is a herbal plant and it is used for medicinal purposes and as a fixative in perfumes, it has an intense fragrance.

Esparto

Esparto grass is used in crafts such as basketry, espadrilles and many other things.

You find picnic tables set under the trees before you reach the statue.

We had a welcoming rest and took in the panoramic view and the aura.

Sagrado Corazón de Jesus

The sacred heart of Jesus is a sculpture of 3,50m in hight and it was first erected in 1921 than destroyed in the civil war. The currant bronze and iron statue is the work of the sculptore by Miguel Fuente del Olmo of Jaen in 1995.