발레 데 압달라이스 최고의 워킹 & 하이킹 경로

At the site of a fissure in the earth, over 256 steps of varying shapes and sizes were hewn into the rock face or constructed from local material. This allows one to traverse the Castillones mountains through the middle. The Arabian Staircase thus provides a convenient shortcut to the Cortijo de Can Pedrero estate. Without it, one would have to make a long detour around the limestone massifs.

Arabian Stairs: The name is misleading. The stairs are not historical, but probably no more than 100 years old, and serve to avoid a massive detour over the later saddle. They were presumably built to facilitate other projects in the region behind the mountain. A local guide reported that the pine forests at the beginning of the tour used to be villages. You can see ruins and threshing floors. During the Franco dictatorship, the villages were destroyed, the inhabitants relocated, and the pines were planted to prevent their return (formerly grain fields): subsistence farmers were difficult to control, and workers were needed for industry.

Beautiful stairs on a wonderful hiking trail

You should walk up the Arabic Steps instead of doing the round the other way around. Then you can enjoy the view and don't have to concentrate so much on the path!

The Tajo de la Encantada Dam was designed with two reservoirs at diferent level, joined by a large water pipe. In the one on the lower level there are several electricity-generating turbines and they are operated with the water pressure from the upper reservoir (Villaverde Dam, near the Bobastro ruins). At night, when energy is less expensive, these turbines will become drive motors and the lower water reservoir is pumped to the top. The next day, the process starts draining the water supply. The business is in the difference in price of electricity day and night. The Tajo de la Encantada Dam is located on the edge of the tagus, in the Chorro, municipality of Álora, where the hydroelectric company has inmplemented the largest reversible hydroelectric in Spain, Salto de la Encantada. (https://andaluciarustica.com/en/tajo-de-la-encantada-dam.htm)

very beautiful hike with a first part in the shade of the pines then a beautiful ascent which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the valley, with birds of prey and 3 ibexes as a bonus!

Below is an old cellar/bunker/mine? entrance. The voor towards south-east is amazing in the morning hours.

The Tajo de la Encantada dam is linked to the Villaverde dam by a large penstock visible from the town. This engineering work, designed to generate electricity, is located at the foot of the famous Caminito del Rey. It has amazing views!