Alhaurín de la Torre area guide: progressive and appealing
Drive around Málaga's wide boulevards and you'll be struck by the architecture of the city. For a conurbation of more than 600,000, it's rare to come across dense residential areas. Instead, apartment blocks are scattered lightly and liberally throughout, with a fair proportion of Málaga residents choosing to instead reside in the surrounding hills and commute into the city for work, the beach and nights out. However, most inland pueblos are hardly of a suitable size or accessibility to support such an influx and exodus each day.
Most, not all. For Alhaurín de la Torre is one of the fastest-growing towns on the Costa del Sol, thanks largely to its proximity to Málaga and the A7 / N-340 coast road, and also its residents' desire to modernise at a rate that might alarm the more sedate neighbours idling in towns and pueblos throughout the Guadalhorce Valley. Alhaurín de la Torre is different - it's a progressive place that has fully embraced the commercial opportunities that have come its way... some might argue to its detriment.
As with all the municipalities in Málaga province, Alhaurín de la Torre can trace its roots back to Moorish times, yet its history is less visible and tangible than most. Intense and rapid recent construction has seen much of the town's heritage hidden away, to a point where the very tower that gives the town its name is now lost to the annals of time and the injurious damage of the digger. There are archaeological sites of interest if you're willing to look for them, but this is a town intent on looking forward, not back.
This attitude, to some, will sound immensely appealing. Alhaurín de la Torre has retained its character to an extent. It's still a tightly huddled, white-washed town, but today the sedate pace, quiet streets and sense of isolation have been replaced by rush hours, a wider variety of inhabitants and easy access to Málaga and the coast. This is the perfect combination for many, but if you're after traditional Andalucía, you're a few decades too late
The surrounding hills are home to avocado and citrus plantations, and it's very tempting, not to mention rewarding, to take an early morning stroll beyond the town's boundaries to these very plantations simply to take in the fragrant air and excellent views. After such an invigorating walk, the descent into town can be rewarded with an excellent breakfast at one of the many welcoming and well-priced cafés and bodegas that are dotted about the main strip.
Culturally, Alhaurín de la Torre boasts the Carta Arqueologica, a council-approved list of archaeological sites that are of particular interest, so if you're keen on learning more about the town's history, this is a fun and insightful place to start. Families can also enjoy a range of leisure pursuits in the town, including horse riding, tennis and padel and, of course, football.
Málaga's bright lights are tantalisingly close and easy to reach, so many locals of Alhaurín de la Torre choose to head to the big city for their nocturnal kicks. You could easily do likewise or, if the mood suits, stay put and sample the town's own nightlife, which mercifully remains steadfastly Andalusian. By that read: late to start, late to finish, inexpensive, friendly and loud. Very loud.
Late night bars will stay open until 6am at the weekends, while the two or three clubs in town might push on for an hour or two later. Restaurants begin to fill up at around 10pm, and most specialise in traditional Andalusian dishes, tapas, al fresco seating and attentive service. Then there's the local wine and sherry, which simply must be sampled if you're at all interested in enjoying a night out 'Alhaurín- style'.