Where is Bubion?
Bubion is situated in the Granada province of southern Spain in an area known as Las Alpujarras, which forms the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Las Alpujarras covers a total area of some 2,500 square kilometres and contains 40 villages, many of them very small. Malaga is approximately two and a half hours’ drive southwest, and the city of Granada just under 90 minutes’ drive northwest.
What kind of place is Bubion?
Surrounded by absolutely magnificent mountain views, Bubion is perched at an altitude of 1350 metres in the Poqueira Ravine and has a local population of just 600. A peaceful and quiet little Moorish village, it is characterised by its whitewashed buildings with slate and tile roofs and an array of chimney pots. The village has just one winding, narrow and cobbled street, with most of the buildings, which are set out down the mountainside, being connected by little alleyways.
What is there to do and see in Bubion?
For such a small village, Bubion offers a variety of treasures for the visitor to explore. There are bars and restaurants which offer good traditional food at affordable prices, as well as shops selling local produce, a couple of small supermarkets, a chemist, a hairdressers and even a hardware store.
Accommodation can be found at a number of self-catering holiday homes which have been converted from the original village houses, and just outside the village there is the Villa Turistica, a purpose-built tourist complex which also serves as a centre for hiking, horseriding and jeep tours.
Bubion offers several galleries and workshops where the visitor can see examples of the crafts and precious metalwork produced by the resident artists. In addition, there is a small folk museum, called the Casa Alpujarrena. As you would expect, the village also has its local church, which dates back to the 16th century and stands next to the remains of an Arab fortified tower.
If you are interested in having your holiday to Bubion include some traditional Andalucian merry-making, then be sure to book for the penultimate weekend in August when the village holds is main fiestas. Not for the faint-hearted, you can look forward to four days and nights of fun, feasting and dancing!
What is there to do and see in the area generally?
Apart from coming to enjoy the peace and tranquility of this exquisite little village and the spectacular views and scenery, many visitors come to Bubion for walking and horseriding holidays. There are a number of businesses which offer riding facilities in the area, offering anything from complete one week riding holidays to short day rides across a variety of different terrains.
Aside from Bubion, the two other best-known villages in western Alpujarras are Pampaneira to the south and Capileira to the north, both of which are only a few kilometres away. Pampaneira has won many awards over the years for being the prettiest and best-kept village and Capileira is home to a cultural centre which is also a museum and artists’ residence.