Location
Oliva Villa is situated just outside Pizarra in Campo-Vega Santa Maria, in the mountains where the views are spectacular. Pizarra, is approxamatly 30 kilometres from the city of Malaga and is very easy to reach. Take the motorway to Campanillas A357 and then the Cartama exit. You can also go by train from either Malaga or Antequera, full details can be given
Distances From The House
Nearest villages are Pizarra 3kms, Cartama 8kms and Alora (5 mins by car). Malaga is 30 mins by car or 25 minutes by train from Aljaima Estacion FCC.
Malaga now boasts the newly opened Picasso exhibition as well as excellent shopping, tapas bars and restaurants.
Granada is 90 mins away with its unique Alhambra, Rhonda (60 mins), Cordoba, famous for its Mosque and Seville with its stunning old town (3 hours) are all worth visiting. El Torcal, prehistoric landscape Antequera (40 mins).
Further Details
The nearest baker, pharmacy and supermarket are in Pizzara. The Health centre in Cartama is excellent and English speaking. Alora has a Monday market and good tapas bars and restaurants. The Museo restuarant on the way to Pizarra has a garden and stunning views and 'Los Caballos' on the road from Pizarra to Alora is friendly and offers a translated menu. Selwo Zoo just outside Marbella (40 minutes) and Selwo Marine World in Benalmedena (30 mins) are ideal outings for children. Crocodile Park and Water slide parks in Torremolinos and El Chorro gorge (18km’s) offers excellent opportunities for hiking, river climbing and hang-gliding.
Things to see and do
If you fancy a lovely, chilled day in the heart of stunning surroundings, you couldn't do much better than a trip to El Chorro National Park. It's a beautiful location consisting of an amazing and surreal gorge cut through limestone peaks by the River Gaudalhorce with some spectacular lakes and dams. The National Park has plenty of unspoilt and amazing natural scenery, a fantastic contrast to the hustle of Malaga city or the region's coastal resorts.
Threading the length of the gorge itself is the improbable Camino del Rey - a concrete catwalk literally hanging halfway up the side of the cliff face. Originally built as part of a hydroelectric scheme, it was opened by King Alfonso XIII in 1921; who walked it's length and eventually naming it: the King's Path. Walking the Camino del Rey is no longer possible (thankfully !) due to some gaping holes and decidedly wobbly portions, but it's still a wonder in itself and definitely worth a look. If you fancy a good long walk, a bit of hiking, or even just a stroll to build up your appetite, you'd be hard to find a better spot in the region. There are plenty of well marked routes to follow; up into the hills, around the lakes and through the village of El Chorro itself. Climb the Pico de Almochon for spectacular views of the lakes, and follow the path to the start of the Camino del Rey to see it clinging to the rock face.
El Chorro has plenty of lovely restaurants located in privileged spots overlooking the lakes. Enjoy a delicious three-course paella, or carne a la brasa (meat cooked over charcoal grill) lunch, with wine, al fresco with stunning views over the lake. Then sit and soak up the afternoon sunshine to relax and allow yourself to be charmed by the place - go on, you deserve it !
Pizarra
A visit to the town should start at the Casa de Cultura. Then make for the Fernando Vergara Park, created in tribute to a much-loved local stationmaster. You then come to the seventeenth century St Peter’s Church, which was completely sacked in an uprising in 1931. It has a square tower with three bells and a clock on it. The most valuable item in the church is the baptismal font, whose base was re-built after the sacking. When you come out of the church, turn right and you will see the Palace of the Count of Puerto Hermoso. It was in this mansion that the Pizarra Conference was held in 1922 to put an end to the war with Morocco, but it is a private house and not open to the public.
Then go up Calle Real to the Town Hall. The square you come to is as old as the village itself. Opposite the square is Calle Alta, where the convent belonging to the order of Sisters of the Cross, from Seville, stands. This convent house was opened in 1955. Carry on up the street and you will come to the shrine to Nuestra Señora de Fuensanta, erected on the spot where a statue of Santa María de la Concepción was found and on the foundations of the old tenth century Mozarab church. One of only seven of this type in the whole of the province of Malaga, the shrine was denominated a monument of Historical and Artistic Interest in 1985.
If you go back down into the town via the Barrio Alto, you will come to the ICONA Park. If you pick the route via Calle Francisco Rosas you will come to the Doctor José González Espino Park. Back in the town, take the 337 road in the direction of Malaga to reach Pizarra Municipal Museum, formerly the Hollander Museum. Its previous owner was Gino Hollander, a Belgian artist who arrived in Spain in 1962. He set up home in Pizarra in 1968 and, fascinated by Spanish culture, began to collect antiques. What started out as a private passion gradually grew into the Hollander Museum, situated in his private residence, called Cortijo de Yeguas.
In 1988 Hollander donated his collection to Pizarra Town Hall and in 1991 the council bought Cortijo Casablanca which is where the collection is currently housed. This farmhouse is a nineteenth century building that used to belong to the Counts of Puerto Hermoso. It now consists of two halls, the Gino Hollander Hall, situated in what used to be the stables, and the Agustín Calvijo Hall, where the store room and workshops for restoration work are situated.
The Gino Hollander Hall is divided into four areas: Stone, Pottery, Metal and Wood. The second hall houses Spanish furniture from different ages, ethnic material and Gino Hollander’s own sculptures. The museum possesses 5,000 items of which only 920 are actually on display.
Local Cuisine
The gastronomy of Pizarra is very varied. Among the most traditional dishes are the soups, the potato omelettes, dishes made from asparagus and the gazpachos. They also make excellent pastries here, among them the meat and fish pies, the doughnuts of Ceralba and the various breads of the area.
Local Facilities
Golf
There are a number of Golf Clubs around the area the below list is only a few that are available. Alhaurin Golf, Alhaurin El Grande 20 minutes Tel: 952 5959 70 18 hole.
Parador Malaga de Golf 30 minutes Tel:952 376 677 18 hole.
Both excellent quality, demanding golf courses.
In addition El Candado, Malaga (30 minutes) Tel: 952 299 340.
Four noteworthy golf courses in Mijas ( 40 Minutes) including La Cala Mijas Tel:952 669 033.
Lauro Golf in Alhaurin De La Torre (45 Minutes) Tel:952 41 2767
There are nine excellent courses in Marbella (1 hour) including Cabopino Golf 18 hole par 71 sea and mountain views Tel: 952 850 282 and Los Arqueros (designed by Seve Ballesteros) Tel: 952 784600.
Fiestas
The fair, the main festivity of the year, in honour of the patron saint, Nuestra Senora de Fuensanta, is held in August every year. The feast day of St Blaise is celebrated on February 3rd. On this day the local people go to the convent for the blessing of a special cake in the form of a ring. The day for making the journey up to the shrine in honour of the patron saint is October 12th. In June the Cafeteras Club collaborates in organising an open-air party on St John’s Eve.
Local History
Zalea and Cerralba
Within the municipality, as well as the town of Pizarra itself, there are two villages, Zalea, with 1,405 inhabitants, and Cerralba, with 573, and the hamlet of Hipólito. In the last 20 years there has been tremendous growth in the number of buildings and services in the town and the amount of infrastructure, with quality modifications to meet the demands of modern society.
The origins of the present town go back to the fifteenth century when, after the reconquest of Alora by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Don Diego Romero was given 100 fanegas of land, "from port to port", for his worthy deeds in the conquest of Alora. However, around the borders of the municipality, axes and tombs have been found that go way back to pre-historical days, as have pieces of Phoenician and Tartessian pottery and daggers.
The first proper settlement here was the Roman town of Barbi. Later, in the tenth century, the Arabs created a Mozarab church. From 1484 onwards the present town began to grow up between the great house occupied by Don Diego Romero, that is currently the Puerto Hermoso Palace, and the parish church, which together formed the centre. It was not until 1847, however, that Pizarra was granted the denomination of municipality by a royal certificate from the Higher Court of Justice.
The number of casual labourers living in the then village started to grow rapidly, but shortly afterwards fell off until the railway arrived in 1859, and with it the road that links Álora with Malaga. Since this road goes through Pizarra, it brought the village out of isolation. The economy of Pizarra is based on agriculture, which has managed to adapt to all the technological advances and changes.
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