Culture
The cultural heritage of the municipality of Pórtugos is found in its varied physical landscapes, folklore, delicious cuisine and popular fiestas.
Typical Cuisine
The cuisine in the municipality of Pórtugos uses local crops and animal products. The olla de parva (“crop-threshing stew”) is of particular note. It is made with chickpeas, green beans, bacon, morcilla (a sort of black pudding) and potatoes.
History
The name Pórtugos comes from the Latin word portus, which means “thoroughfare”. The Romans founded the first human settlement in the area. After the Rebellion of the Alpujarras, the Moors were driven out of the region, and their land was abandoned. Philip II therefore organised for the area to be repopulated with settlers from other regions. The first map of the village was made in the 18th century, when the Catastro de Ensenada, a large-scale census and statistical investigation of Castile, was carried out. From then on, foreigners started to come to the area, drawn to the Alpujarra by its spirit of enlightenment and rationalism, and a desire to return to nature. Since then, the Fuente Agria and the medicinal properties of its mineral water have attracted many visitors to Pórtugos.