ZAFARRAYA PASS - MALAGA, GRANADA

 Sieras de Tejeda, Almijara Y Alhama

north of Alcaucin

Fantastische U-shape pas Zafarraya is de grens tussen de twee provincies Malaga en Granada.

The Zafarraya to Periana Railway – Now a Lovely Walk

Zet echt aan om te mijmeren hoe hier het oude treinspoor liep.
Een smokkelaars route tussen Malaga en Granada.

 

The journey from Málaga by car should take about an hour. Take the A-7 Autovía eastwards from Málaga (signposted Motril and Almería) and after approximately 32 kilometres take the exit signposted A402 to the historic town of Vélez-Málaga. Bypass the town and continue north following the signposts to Alhama de Granada. Pass by Lake La Viñuela, the largest reservoir in Málaga Province and further on, the ruins of Zalía castle.

The U-shaped Zafarraya Pass, over 900 metres above sea level, is dauntingly impressive and has been recognised for centuries as a key gateway between the lands south-west of Granada and the villages, towns and ports along the coast east of Málaga. The Zafarraya area was owned by the province of Málaga and its name is probably derived from the Arabic word meaning “Málaga countryside”.

The Zafarraya to Periana Railway – Now a Lovely Walk

The north-south trading route was reinforced at the start of the 20th century when a railway linking Ventas de Zafarrayawith Periana was constructed. A Belgian company built a line from Málaga to Vélez in 1908. Work then started on the Periana to Ventas de Zafarraya section in 1911 but was not completed until 1922. The gradient was steep and there were three stretches of the line where trains had to be racked up. It was planned to extend the line to Granada but this project was not completed. The line was closed in 1960 and the track removed, thus allowing for a lovely 7-kilometre easy walk between the two villages.

A journey to Ventas de Zafarraya north of Vélez-Málaga will offer variety: white villages, a huge lake, a ruined Moorish castle, spectacular views and a lovely walk along a disused railway line.