History

Illora lies in the Poniente Granadino – the district on the western edge of Granada and next to the provinces of Malaga and Cordoba. The district has a history stretching back over thousands of years.

Julius Caesar was Governor of the region for several years and the Romans remained here for centuries. In 407 to 409 AD the region came under the rule of the Visigoths, following the conquest of the Romans and the Vandals and many traces of the Visigoths can still be found here today.

In 711 the Moors invaded Spain and this was the start of an eight century long dominance of the region. The achievements of the Moors disguise what was a turbulent history of Islamic fiefdoms, the Caliphate of Cordoba and, best known of all, the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. The Nasrid kingdom based itself in the Alhambra in Granada and made an enormous contribution to the development of the Poninete Granadino, which survives adapted but largely intact to this day.

Illora is a superb central point from which to tour the rich and living history throughout the Poniente Granadino as well as the rich history of Granada itself, the wonders of Cordoba, Sevilla Jaen and much more.

In Sierra Martilla, Loja and the Archaeological Park in Pena de los Gitanos, Montefrio you can see remains dating from the Neolothic to the Ibero-Roman and Visigoth periods as well as megolithic graves. The Islamic rulers left an indelible stamp on the Poniente, which distinguishes the region so sharply from other parts of Europe. This is can be seen in castles in Illora, Moclin, Zagra and Montefrio as well as in the architecture and city walls of Alhama de Granada

When Granada Poniente's Muslim frontier fell, the Muslim population was replaced by Christian settlers or adapted to the Christian faith. New ways of life and new styles for living began to merge with and replace the Islamic – in Granada and, most dramatically, in Cordoba Christian cathedrals replaced or grew out of Muslim Mosques.

We shall build more detail soon on these compelling reasons for making Illora your base for touring.