Culture
There is a great diversity of cultural manifestations in the municipality of Capileira, which can be seen in its urban and agricultural heritage and in its fiestas, folklore and mouth-watering typical cuisine.
Typical Cuisine
You could try puchero de hinojos, a stew made from white kidney beans, bacon, potatoes and fennel. For dessert there are roscos fritos, ring-shaped pastries which are typical throughout the region and are made from eggs, flour, sugar and cinnamon. In a Moorish oven in Capileira the magnificent loaves known as hogazas de pan continue to be baked, and are ideal for serving with any kind of dish.
History
The origin of Capileira dates back to the time of the Goths, although there are some authors who think that it could have been earlier than this. Its name is derived from the Latin word “capillaris”, which translates as “head” or “top”.
Due to its impregnable situation it was one of the last places to be conquered by the Arabs, and later by the Christians. During the Nasrid Kingdom it was part of the district known as Taha de Poqueira. Capileira was the setting for the fights between Boabdil and his uncle El Zagal. Some time afterwards, Philip II banished the population following the Rebellion of the Alpujarras. Later on, the municipality was repopulated by settlers from other parts of the Kingdom.