Thursday, 09 September 2010 06:47

- and fall under the spell of Al-Andalus

By Andrea MacLean

The internationally renowned flamenco guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucia is one of the artists set to grace the stage at this year's cultural programme for the Luna Mora Festival in the inland town of Guaro.

And this year is even more special because the artists will be performing in the newly opened outdoor Luna Mora Auditorium. Paco de Lucia will be on stage at 23.00 hours Saturday September 11th and the concert by Diana Navarro, which launches the festival on Friday, has already been sold out. The Malaga Symphony Orchestra will be on stage the following weekend.

And it is not just a musical pleasure in store - each year Guaro is transformed on the second and third weekends of September into a Moorish market place - and if you have never joined the many thousands drawn into the town for this special celebration then make this the year to go. For those of you with   late summer visitors  it's a must-see - an enriching slice of Al Andalus to add to the holiday memories.
Step into Guaro , wander along the main square and slip off into the tiny streets and step back in time to Andalucia's Moorish history. You will find yourself wandering through a Moorish souk, crammed with a rich variety of stalls selling sweet mint tea and other delicacies, jewellery, crafts, chocolates and cheeses. The senses come under assault as acrobats and jugglers amuse the throng, and the air is filled with the sound of music from street entertainers.

The market opens at 5pm - and by 6pm, as dusk begins to fall, the town takes on a magical, warm glow. What makes all this so special is that this is a medieval showpiece lit in medieval style - electric lighting is banned and the main square and each street is transformed by 20,000 candles placed along pavements, in doorways and on window lintels and balconies. The air is filled with heady smells and restaurants and bars have menus designed to draw you in when you want to take a break from wandering the candle-lit streets. After you have been refreshed head back into the throng again - you will definitely find something you will want to buy to take home. And there is plenty of time because nothing closes early.

Drive into Guaro and you will be directed to parking areas from where it is just a ten minute walk back to the main square and the narrow, twisting streets of this small town, which has a history going back to pre-historic and Roman times as well as the imprint of its Moorish legacy. To find out more and if you would like to book tickets for one of the shows in the new auditorium visit www.malagaentradas.com