Holiday villa for rent in Orgiva, Las Alpujarras, Andalucia, Southern Spain. Sleeps 8 (4 bedrooms).

Private swimming pool, shaded terraces, stunning views of Sierrra Nevada and Lujar Mountains.

Orgiva

Orgiva is a bustling small market town with an abundance of tapas bars, a few restaurants, a pizzeria and wonderfully friendly people. There are many pavement cafes which give the town a cosmopolitan feeling. This is quite the opposite of the Costa Del Sol - no bingo or fish and chips here but there is a tiny cinema which is open on Friday and Saturday evenings and occasionally shows a film in the original UK or American version.

With the exception of those people still lingering at the pavement cafes the entire population seems to disappear in the afternoon, which is reserved for la siesta. In late afternoon Orgiva slowly comes back to life and by early evening it's busy again.

Orgiva is one of the few remaining areas of Spain where most bars still serve a free tapas with every drink. Why should you bother to order a meal when you can get a snack with every glass of wine?

There is a lively Thursday market in Orgiva. People gather from miles around to buy and sell local produce, everyday essentials and works of art and crafts. The small supermarkets, bakeries, chemists, banks and health food shops will cater for most of your needs. A larger choice of merchandise is available 30 minutes drive away in the coastal town of Motril. For younger children there is a play area with swings and slide etc near to the Mercado. For teenagers there is a small outdoor disco which opens at weekends during the peak season.

Orgiva has several buildings of architectural interest including the 16c parish church which has a mixture of Baroque and Renaissance influences and a beautiful interior. The Palace of the Counts of Sastago has been tastefully renovated and will shortly be the home of the ayunmiento. There are the remains of a 15c Arab oil mill Molinos de Benizalte.

The area with its Moorish influences has been immortalised by Gerald Brennan in his book "South from Granada" and more recently by Chris Stewart in his best selling books "Driving Over Lemons" and "Parrot In A Pepper Tree" which provide an amusing insight into the life and customs of the Alpujarras.