Moraleda de Zafayona
Moraleda de Zafayona has been declared a site of cultural interest due to the significant number of archaeological remains found here from various eras. The town has a population of around 3,000.
History
In her book Moraleda de Zafayona from its Origins, María Encarnación Fernández López explains that it is highly likely that the town's name, Moraleda, derives from the abundance of mulberry trees used in the silk industry in an area known in ancient times as Campo de Zafayona (Zafayona Field). Regarding the term 'Zafayona', some authors, such as Malpica Cuello and Rodríguez Moreno, suggest that it could come from the Arabic 'fa al-ayun', meaning 'springs'. More>
Things to see
Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias
The church was initially built in the nineteenth century and consisted of a single nave and a small bell tower at the rear of the building. It wasn’t until 1923, under the patronage of Doña María de Coca, that the current tower and main altar were added. After sustaining significant damage during the Spanish Civil War, the rectangular base of the complex was expanded in the 1950s with the addition of a new nave on the right-hand side. In 2007, the bell tower and its clock were relocated and decorative motifs were added to enhance the architectural ensemble. Located in Plaza Iglesia.
El Caño
This historic site is located near the church in a beautiful square that overlooks the Cacín River valley and its vast olive groves. According to the village elders, a beautiful spring that flowed from the heart of the earth was channelled in the last third of the nineteenth century. A fountain with three spouts was built, along with two medium-sized troughs for watering animals and a washhouse. Today, only the fountain, part of the wall that enclosed the spring and some of the troughs remain from the original design. Located on Calle Fuente.
Things to see outside the town
Puente del Río Cacín
The bridge was designed by Juan Santa Cruz, the Chief Engineer of Public Works. Completed in 1933, it represented a significant improvement in access to the village, facilitating the passage of cars, carts and pack animals from Alhama. It also encouraged trade from the Málaga coast, providing Moraleda with access to the Vega de Granada.
Yacimiento Arqueológico del Cerro de la Mora
The archaeological site is located four kilometres northeast of the town, on a hill next to the left bank of the Genil River, approximately three hundred metres from the Cortijo de la Barandilla farmhouse. The Cerro de la Mora site's significance lies in its size and structural complexity. It was continuously occupied from the 15th century BC until the 2nd or 3rd century AD, after which it was sporadically used as a burial site and dwelling until medieval times. The chronological sequence begins in the final phases of the Argar culture and continues uninterrupted until the late Roman Empire. This allows us to study the major social, economic and political transformations brought about by colonisation, the emergence of the Iberian people and the Romanisation of the Iberian Peninsula. In 2004, the Regional Government declared it a Site of Cultural Interest as an Archaeological Zone.
Bus Services
There are bus services from Moraleda de Zafayona to Granada City and Torre del Mar. More>
Gastronomy
When visiting Moraleda de Zafayona, try dishes such as col en ajopollo (cabbage stew), papas en aliño (potato and pepper stew), ajo blanco (almond and garlic cold soup), remojón (cod and orange salad) and choto al ajillo (garlic lamb).
Festivals
Popular festivals in Moraleda de Zafayona are La Candelaria, Festividad de San Marcos, Fiestas de Agosto and Feria de Octubre. More>
Weather forecast
The weather forecast for the next few days for Moraleda de Zafayona. More>
Tourist office
The tourist office of Moraleda de Zafayona is located in the Town Hall. More>
Villages Nearby
The neighbouring villages to Moraleda de Zafayona are Huétor-Tájar and Láchar.