Within the region of La Alpujarra, on the Mediterranean side of the Sierra Nevada massif, you can find Bubión, located in the place known as the Poqueira Ravine. Perched at an altitude of 1300 m. , it can be reached via a winding road from Órgiva, which is 18 km away.
Architecture
The striking white villages of the ravine are facing the sun, and are constructed in a stepped manner, due to the steep slopes. It is said that this style of house was inherited from Arab times, but according to others the origins of this type of architecture is in fact pre-Berber, and probably neolithic. The white colour of the houses is obtained from the nearby limekilns, but it was not always the custom to limewash them. Long ago the houses were not painted, and was in the 17th century, when an epidemic of the plague appeared in the region, that it was decided to cover them in limewash, which has disinfecting properties. Limewash was also applied to the interior of the houses, which also provided them with better illumination.
Among the holm oaks, chestnuts and oaks, various fruit trees and brambles, the land possesses a unique flora within Europe. It is worth mentioning the wild boar and the Spanish goat, which can be seen on its peaks during the summer, for which there is currently a total ban on hunting.
Houses in La Alpujarra are built from local materials, without significant transformations. They integrate harmoniously with their surroundings, as they come directly from them. Each element of the house is very important;
The terrao: That is the name that is given here to the roof. The roof is held up by chestnut beams which carry slabs of slate. The slabs are covered with a thick layer of earth, called launa. It is earth composed of decomposing phyllites, which ensures that the roofs are waterproof.
The tinao: This is a type of porch that covers the street and joins two houses. It acts as a shelter (when the people returned from the fields and the weather was bad, they could leave their livestock or harvest underneath) and a place to rest in the shade.
The windows: They are small in size, and there are few, to prevent the cold coming in. The chimneys: They are high and in the shape of a pyramidal trunk. The height of the chimneys can vary based on the snow that normally falls on them.
