Valor has an incredible Fiesta in September. As Valor is the birthplace of Aben Humeya, who led the Morisco revolt against the Christians in the 1500s, each year the villagers re-enact the battle complete with castle, horses and lots of noisy muskets!
The week ends in typical Spanish fashion, with a huge firework display. Other highlights of the Fiesta include the Procession of Santo Cristo de la Yedra (Christ on the Cross), which takes place at night with as many as 100 men carrying the statue around the village and, if you want, dancing all night in the square.
Like all villages in Granada we also celebrate the feastday of San Marco towards the end of April. The whole village gathers beside the river beneath the old roman bridge where the ladies have prepared huge pots of pork stew to share; everyone brings something to drink and there are barbecues of rabbit and chicken for the more adventurous. each person receives a wreath of bread and it is considered good luck to still have it intact the following San Marco.
About 30 minutes away is the village of Berchules, famous throughout Spain for celebrating Christmas and New Year in the height of summer. After a storm brought down all their decorations and stopped the celebrations a few years ago, the Mayor decided to have the 2 holidays in July and August! It was so popular that they do it every year and people come from all over Spain to celebrate a second time in the sunshine.
The nearby town of Cadiar has a fountain which flows with (free) wine during it´s Fiesta and Ugijar, our closest small town, hosts a bullfight in a temporary bullring and also a Horse Fair.
All village fiestas are an excuse to dress up and party; there are funfairs and markets and the whole family participates.
Places of Interest
Trevelez, the highest mountain in Spain, is 1 hour away; famous for ´jamon´and the trout fished from it´s river it is an ideal lunch destination. There are also a number of shops selling typical Alpujarran produce and crafts such as rugs, ceramics, wine, honey, cheese and a variety of ham products.
Over the mountain pass of the Puerto de la Ragua you will find La Calahorra and Guadix. Atop a large rock and visible for miles around the Castle of La Calahorra was built in the 1500´s as a gift for the 15 year old wife of the Marques; it was later given to a Christian Knight for his role in the re-conquest of Granada. Guadix is a troglydyte town and home to a Cave Museum.