In 552 CE, taking advantage of a civil war among the Visigoths, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian I sent forces to southern Spain.

What's fascinating about the place names in the Alpujarra is how they reflect the multiple eras of settlement - from pre-Roman through Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish periods.

Nestled in the rugged landscape of Almería, Los Millares stands as a remarkable archaeological site that offers a window into prehistoric human civilization. This Bronze Age settlement, dating from 3200-2300 BCE, represents

There is no direct archaeological evidence of Phoenician colonies in the Alpujarra. However, the Phoenician influence likely reached the interior regions indirectly through trade networks.

The first written account of Polopos is from 1508. It is certain that the village existed before that time, but we can’t know for sure when the first settlement was established. We will discuss the prehistoric time of the Alpujarra and its people

The Contraviesa range is a significant geographical feature of the Alpujarra region, stretching approximately 40 kilometers from east to west. Its highest peak, Cerro del Conjuro, reaches an elevation of 1,569 meters (5,148 feet) above sea level.

The Contraviesa mountain range, located in southern Spain's Andalusia region, offers a window into a part of the country often overlooked by outsiders. This range, part of the larger Alpujarra area, sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Boxie is the fourth artist in residence that we welcomed in Polopos. We first met Boxie and his girlfriend Pascale when they booked a stay with us in Casa 3 about two years ago, not as artists but as tourists.

Spanish cheeses come in many varieties. Here is a list with some of the most famous Spanish cheeses and an explanation of the labels of different cheeses in the supermarket.

We were very excited to receive Brie Adkins as the first artist in our new artist residence. This talented muralist flew all the way from Alberta, Canada to our little town of Polopos Spain to do a residency the whole month of October 2022.

The architecture of the Alpujarra is characterised by its white washed houses and flat roofs. The villages are reminiscent of the Berber settlements in the Atlas mountains in Morocco.

On December 19, 1988, the last manual telephone switchboard in Spain, in Polopos, was closed. Magdalena Martin was the last operator.

Artist in Residence Marcelo von Schwarz creates architectural photography of non-existing spaces. I like to use photography because it's a kind of objective media we trust. The idea is to show in a kind of realistic way, some impossible spaces

Only 35 minutes by car from Polopos you will find the first suspension bridge in the Spanish Mediterranean in Torrenueva Costa, next to Motril. The bridge is 60 meters long and hangs 35 meters above the sea.

The whole region around Polopos, the Alpujarra, is a fantastic location for hiking. From the Contraviesa mountain range where Polopos is located you get the added bonus of beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.

“Thysa and Wijnand, would you like to join us on Pantelleria?” We didn't need much persuasion when we were invited by American wine photographer Michael Housewright and his wife Juliet.

Tourists that have visited Almería in the past may have passed the Cable Ingles without ever knowing what it was used for. It is a piece of industrial history, an impressive landmark that you are now able to go and see and

It is fitting that Polopos has been stuck in the clouds for weeks. A clear blue sky wouldn’t suit social isolation. The world is shrouded in a haze, just like the future, just like the virus.

Her name is Leia, named after a princess who lived long ago in a universe far, far away. But during the first months of her life she didn't exactly live like a princess.