Torvizcón – Old Town

Situated on the left bank of the wadi that bears its name and looking west from the slopes of the Cercado hill, is the municipality of Torvizcón in the southern part of the Alpujarra of Granada.

The name of the village may derive, as the Hispanist Gerald Brenan argues, from the shrub known as torvisco, which is abundant in the area and was used in ancient times, according to tradition, to cure the ‘evil eye’.

During the Arab period, Torvizcón achieved considerable splendour thanks to its fruitful agriculture, as the Moors installed innovative wells and irrigation systems in the area. At that time, high quality silk was produced and vineyards were cultivated to export sultanas.

Named by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón as the “favourite city of the sun”, it was once considered the capital of the Contraviesa, as most of this mountain range falls within its municipal boundaries.

Torvizcón today preserves one of the best-kept urban areas in the region, which can serve as a unique location for any type of film, television or advertising project.