My stroll through

Salobreña’s old town

Posted by:

Martin Ridley

Walking up through the old town is like walking through a labyrinth, with narrow streets running off at wild angles providing hidden corners and pleasing vistas at every turn. Luckily the Ayuntamiento has provided us with handy signs to keep us on track. These take the form of small circular plaques set into the street surface which mark a variety of ways up to the castle. Look out for these plaques at junctions.

To describe a single route through these streets is difficult and it is perhaps best to expect or even aim to get lost amongst the picturesque alleys and whitewashed houses. Here however is an attempt at least to guide you on a circular route via the castle taking in some of the best that the old town of Salobreña has to offer.

Our route starts at the rock and anchor sculpture at the foot of Calle Constitution. On the right at the start of Calle Pontanilla is our first plaque directing us along this street before turning steeply up into Calle Santa Cruz. Ascending through this area of steep narrow streets gives us the first views of the castle above and ever widening views of the hills and countryside to the north of the village.

 

To describe a single route through these streets is difficult and it is perhaps best to expect or even aim to get lost amongst the picturesque alleys and whitewashed houses

 

We arrive on Calle Constitution near the Hogar de Pensionistas and here walk to the right and up through Parque El Postigo. Pass through the car park to follow steps and paths up through trees to reach Calle Antequera. Cross this street into Paseo de Flores.

 

The Paseo runs below the castle walls and offers views to the north and west of the town.   View west to Caleta.

 

Within the rocks of the cliffs themselves look out for statues of the Madonna and also keep an eye out for kestrels which nest on the castle walls.

Returning to Calle Antequerra we turn right briefly before heading up Calle Rosa. This narrow street leads us round to the entrance to the castle itself. Before you reach the castle turn left as we now enter the Faldas de Castillo or the “skirts of the castle“ . The narrow alleys cross the slope directly below the castle walls and bring us to a mirador with a magnificent view to the south. Go down steps to Calle Estacion and continue to Mirador Enrique Morente. Here we get magnificent views to the Mediterranean with El Peñon just below us.

 

We now walk beside the circular building of Radio Salobreña along Calle Martin Recuerda street passing via a tunnel through the very walls of the old town itself and emerge at the Plaza de Ayuntamiento the original Town Hall square.

Take a moment here to climb up to the church and also seek out the Arab water store on Calle Iglesia . The plaza itself is surrounded by some of the town’s oldest buildings and is a great place to rest before we begin our decent.

 Leave the square via some steps to the right of bar Botica. Note the original carcel or jail to the right at the top of the steps. We soon reach La Placeta and head right, down a narrow alley, to enter Barrio Brocal. From this point a route description becomes almost impossible, however by generally heading downhill we eventually reach Calle Nuestra Señora de la Rosario. We can make our way back to the lower town.