AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GUADALHORCE VALLEY LIES PIZARRA, A RADIANT VILLAGE OF SCARCELY SEVEN THOUSAND INHABITANTS AND SEVEN THOUSAND HECTARES OF CULTIVATED LAND. CONQUERED THROUGH A COMPLEX INDEPENDENCE THAT LASTED ALMOST THREE CENTURIES.

At the point where the Casarabonela stream pours into the Guadalhorce river stands Pizarra. This prosperous town has an important agricultural production: olives, citrics, vegetables and grapes make up its cultivated and beautiful landscape.
The cow, pork, sheep and goat herds are also a basic aspect of the local economy. All this, as is logical, provides a delicious and varied gastronomy. The fast road connections with the capital and its vast territory make Pizarra one of the villages with the most outreach.

A stroll through history.
Aureliano Fernández Guerra, famous historian, assures that the Roman settlement of Barbi, located on the ancient "Via" Malaga-Seville, is the predecessor of Pizarra. However, the present town centre dates from much later. In fact, in times of the reconquest of Alora (specifically in 1483), it still did not exist. We have to go back to the end of the 15th century to find "the place called Pizarra", which was built over one hundred fanegas of land "from port to port", as described in documents, donated, along with other assets, by the Catholic Monarchs to one of the conquerors of the region, D. Diego Romero.
In the last third of the 16th century it appears as a town independent from the city of Málaga governed by an "ordinary mayor" and its fields watched over by a "brotherhood mayor".
In 1592 these posts were filled by the inhabitants Alonso Rosa and Bartolomé de Vargas. The mayor of Málaga at thar time, Licenciado Osorio, decided to withdraw their powers from them. Not agreeing with this, they requested justice and the Granada Court, on the 16th December 1594, sentenced the Málaga mayor and other governors of Málaga to pay a fine and to return the staffs that they took away.

Since that historical date Pizarra had the power to appoint its mayors, even though they were still subject to the jurisdiction of the city of Mñálaga, except in ecclesiastical matters, as they were annexed to Alora in the parochial service.
The industriousness of its inhabitants led the population to advance and grow, expecially at the end of the 18th century. The need to expand agriculture and pastures caused frequent disputes with the neighbouring villages. Thus, the second half of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century, were marked by the continious litigations with Alora, Casapalma, Cártama and Casarabonela.
At the beginning of the 19th century Pizarra had almost three hundred inhabitants, was governed by a mayor, a town councillor and two deputies, although they did not have ordinary jurisdiction and they were subject to the justice of Alora. This imposition caused humiliation for the Pizarra inhabitants, in legal business, in denouncements and in distribution of rates. Thus, on the 7th of February 1803 they appeared before King Carlos IV to request the separation of "the place of Pizarra" from the jurisdiction of Alora, as well as the concession of a Royal Privilege of Township and the assignation of district and jurisdiction.
After a long procedure, by a Royal Warrant of Fernando VII dated the 19th January 1818, they obtained township, bu not a jurisdictional distric, given the oppositions of Alora, Casapalma and Málaga. Later, under the Constitution of Cádiz and the Decree of the Courts, the corresponding jurisdictional district was requested due to the large number of inhabitants. The resistance of the neighbouring villages grew against the dismembering of its districts, but Pizarra's reasons were accepted by the Supreme Court of Justice. From 1847 onwards, the village of Pizarra progressively prospered. At present, it has an area of almost 6.500 hectares and a population of over 6.000 inhabitants.

As a "contemporary" historical fact, we have the celebration of the "Pizarra Conference" at the Palace of the Puerto Hermoso Count, on the 5th of February 1922. In this meeting the war of Morocco was analysed and the High Commissioner of Spain in Morocco met with general Berenguer, admiral Aznar, the Prime Minister Antonio Maura and several of his ministers.

Places to visit:
Pizarra hermitage (Temple of the Virgen de la Fuensanta): The Pizarra hermitage, temple of the patron saint, is dug from the rock of the mountain of the same name, above remains of the Mozarab church of the 10th century. From this temple the saint is taken in procession, every 14th of August, to the parochial church.
Palace of the Count of Puerto Hermoso: This famous building, today Historical-Artictic momument, was built over the remains of the first family seat of Pizarra, owned by Diego Romero and built in the last decade of the 15th century.
San Pedro Apostol Parochial Church: Although it was built in 1652, its valuable baptismal font dates from 1630. The latest restoration work, carried out at the end of 1999, was the roof, with much care for its handwork, of great historical value. An important element is the splendid belfry.

Hollander Museum:
Located in a picturesque and rural setting. The complex holds exhibition halls, rural hotel, restaurant and typical items of the area. This is a stop not to be missed by those who wish to learn the true history, culture and customs of our ancestors.
The Gino Hollander room shows the history of humanity from the last 800.000 years. Stones worked by prehistoric man, ceramics from the second millennium before Christ, the evolution of money in the last 2.300 years, locks from the time of Felipe II and magnificent examples of work in the fields represented by threshers, silos or pitchforks...
In the Agustin Clavijo room we can see the most important representations of Spanish furniture since the 15th century: chests, armchairs, bargueños, braziers, recreations of a kitchen and a bedroom and, of course, the pictures of Eugene Hollander, who is so close to this landscape, to these people.
In addition to the fact that Pizarra has quite and extensive historical-cultural and landscape heritage, in a few years it will be able to enjoy one of the most exclusive tourist and sports attractions of the interior of the Costa del Sol: an 18-hole golf course. A rural hotel will be built next to it, containing 100 rooms, and a Andalusian style residential complex, which will increase the beauty and the offer of this village as a tourist destination.

Basic data
Size: 64.10 Km²
Population: 6,600
Residents known as: Pizarreños
Monuments: Church of San Pedro Apóstol, Palace of the Conde de Puerto Hermoso, Municipal Museum, Convent of the Hermanas de la Cruz and the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora Fuensanta.
Geographical situation: In the Guadalhorce Valley, 30 kilometres from Malaga, at 80 metres above sea level.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza Ayuntamiento, 1. 29560.
Phone: 952 483 015 Fax: 952 483 574

FIESTAS
The fair, the main festivity of the year, in honour of the patron saint, Nuestra Señora 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. Flamenco singing and dancing are on the programme as well as the burning of the traditional "júas" or"guy".

GASTRONOMY
The gastronomy of Pizarra is very varied. Among the most traditional dishes are the soups, the potato omelettes, dishes made fro asparagus and the gazpachos. They also made excellent pastries here, among them the meat and fish pies, the doughnuts of Ceralba and the various breads of the area.