Aplujarras II: Pampaneira

The second village we visited was Pampaneira. This is one of three villages which is clinging to the side of the deep Barranco de Poqueira ravine and is one of the most dramatically sited, and most touristed, in Las Alpujarras. The white washed stone houses seem to clamber over each other in an effort not to slide down into the gorge, while streets decked with flowery balconies wriggle between them.

The white color is not chosen merely by it’s abillity to illuminate or repelle the sun, but because in these houses not only people live. At the first floor, or cellar plateau, the domestic animals, like goats or cattle, live and at the top floor the house products, cheese, olives and wine, are stored. The color keeps away insects and this was especially necessary during the European plaque, thus not infecting the people living at ground level/first floor. Furthermore they benfit from at cooler temperature in the house.