Archidona - a dog loving town pays its tribute
By Andrea MacLean
You won't learn very much about Archidona if you just leaf through guide books to Andalucia - this charming town is usually written off in just a couple of sentences. Which is a shame - because just getting to Archidona is a real pleasure, and wandering around its pretty streets is a bonus. It is just 50 km from Malaga, bordering the province of Granada, and new roads make it easy to get to, without in any way spoiling its tranquillity.
It's in the heart of olive country and its economy, like many other villages in the area, depends to a large extent on olive oil production. Set in the foothills of the Sierra de Gracia, the history of the town can be traced back to prehistoric times. The Phoenicians are thought to have begun work on the protective walls around the town, the Romans called it Arx Domina and its present name came from the times of the Moors, who called it Medina Arxiduna.
Head out of Malaga on the Granada road, and look out for the signed turning which takes you off the main road and onto the small road leading to the town. The trip is one to lift the spirits. Serried ranks of thousands of olive trees sit firmly rooted in rich red Andalucian soil and the smell of the olives permeates the air, while mountain outcrops break the skyline, and the beauty of Andalucia can be seen for miles around.
Archidona has been a town that over the centuries has enjoyed periods of both great prosperity and impoverishment as it faced occupation and the ravages of the reclamation and its long and eventful history has resulted in it being declared a village of historical and artistic importance.
There is plenty to see. The Hermitage of La Virgen de Gracia has been built on the original site of the Arabic Mosque and the Santa Ana Church was built at the beginning of the 16th century and rebuilt 300 years later. With its triangular tower and artistic and religious heritage, it is well worth a visit. The town´s Plaza Ochavada is an unusually designed octagonal square built in the 18th century in the French style - here is housed the town´s tourist office, which opens from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am until 2pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 2pm.
As with all Spanish towns, Archidona holds its many colourful ferias and festivals throughout the year and around July 27th the townspeople celebrate the Fiesta of San Aurelio while the main summer event is the Fiesta of the Virgen de Gracia, the Patron Saint, from August 14th to 18th.
But dog lovers need to put an entry now in their diary for next year. At the end of May/first week of June Archidona celebrates its three day La Feria del Perro - it's a big event as national and international champion show dogs compete, demonstrations of working dogs are laid on and dog lovers from miles around arrive in the town.
The dog show began in 1993 and is now recognised as having cultural importance. But you don´t need to wait till then to see what respect dogs are held in, in this town. Earlier this year a bronze statue was unveiled in the memory of Lobi, in the main street down from the church. Lobi sat faithfully by his dying master's bedside. After the funeral the dog worked out the opening hours and visited the cemetery every day before returning to his master's family at night. Sadly, on his trip back one day, he was killed in an accident in the street. The words on the plaque next to his statue commend his loyalty and fidelity -the loyalty and fidelity shown by all dogs to their masters.
The tourist office telephone 952 716 479.
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