San Rogelio

Here hs is, the Patron Saint of Illora - constructed in 2010!

Coffee and Colours

Looks like they have recently had a menu change in this bar - different food and drink options and prices

The Origins of Tapas In Andalucia

Step out of the Andalusian sunshine. Just follow the crowds through this little doorway, into the cool interior of a typical bodega or wine bar. Multi-coloured tiles line the walls while clay-tiled floors shine with the patina of years of footsteps. Barrels of wine are stacked behind the bar. From wooden beams hang whole hams and links of sausages, ropes of garlic and peppers.
What really draws you in are the aromas wafting from the kitchen, as plate after plate of food is placed on the bar.
These plates of food are tapas, the best introduction to authentic Andalusian food. Tapas are small portions of foods, both hot and cold, served in bars, bodegas and tascas to accompany a copa of fino-- dry Spanish Sherry--or draught beer. You can enjoy tapas in most bars before the lunch hour (in Spain this is very late--tapas at 1 pm, lunch at 2 pm or after), and again before dinner (8-9 pm, with dinner later yet).
Tapas were invented in Andalusia. The word means "cover." In Andalusian wine-making regions, a saucer is customarily placed to cover a glass of wine in order to keep the little fruit flies from swarming in. A tidbit of food placed on the dish helped attract clients to the wine bar, so the cook--usually the owner's wife--would out-do herself to make more and better ones.

 Here's a tantalizing taste of some of the dishes--hot and cold-- you might find in a tapa bar in southern Spain.

Certainly the superb ham, both serrano , which just means mountain-cured, and the pricey iberico , produced from special Andalusian pigs which grow sweet on acorns. This salt-cured ham is served raw, very thinly sliced. It makes a marvellous combination with fino sherry.
And, of course, Andalucian Olives They can be the famed Seville olives, sweet, meaty manzanillas ; or gordales , the size of small plums; or home-cured ones, slightly bitter, flavoured with herbs and garlic, or olives stuffed with anchovy. A tapa of mixed olives might include fat caper-berries too.

Amongst cold dishes on the tapa bar are a variety of salads, some wonderfully exotic.
Andalusia is famous for its fish and shellfish and a tapa bar is a great place to sample the array. Fried fish, from tiny fresh anchovies (boquerones) and rings of tender squid (calamares) to chunks of fresh hake and batter-dipped prawns are enticing, in deed. Look for cazon en adobo, fish marinated before frying, and boquerones in vinagre, marinated raw fish. The selection of shellfish will astound you--clams and razorshells, mussels, prawns ranging in size from the tiny to the jumbo; crab, lobster, and more.

 Then comes a variety of hot dishes. Some are cooked to order- prawns pil pil sizzled with garlic and oil; garlicky grilled pork loin--while others are dished out of a bubbling stew-pot. You can savour meatballs in almond sauce, sautied mushrooms, chicken fried al ajillo, with garlic; lamb stew; broad beans with ham; piquant tripe, spicy snails, and, of course, tortilla,  a thick round potato omelette. Crisp-fried fritters and croquettes are other great tapas of Andalusia, which produces the world's finest olive oil.

Article on Spanish Tapas by Award Winning Food writer Janet Mendel, author of several books about Spanish cooking,

Coffee and Colours Bar at the Illora Feria

Many of the village bars will host a stall at the Feria this weekend

Here are some of their Feria advertisements!!

Renowned for offering a great choice of cocktails...not to be missed!

COFFEE AND COLOURS

 

CAFE LATINO

 PUB BOLERO

AVENIDA DE TAPAS

Illora Feria October 2015

Friday 9th October, sees the commencement of the Animal Fair in town.
Real Feria de Ganado

The street lights are already installed on the high street, and everyone is praying for warm, sunny weather. There will be much drinking, dancing, and merriment, as is expected at the Feria, which runs until Monday..

Fiesta Dia de San Rogelio

16th September saw the people of Illora celebrating the Day of St Rogelio, the Patron Saint of the town.

 

 Local bakers provided special "tarts" made with a logo of St Rogelio picked out in icing sugar, which were sold for €5 each, with a stall set up in front of the church, along with a bar which is usual at these type of fiesta celebrations. 

Flowers were presented to the statue of St Rogelio in the church, and his statue was paraded through the street on the evening, to the sound of fireworks.

25 Ways to Know You've Become Culturally Spanish

See how many of these apply to YOU!

1. You have dinner after 10pm.
2. You can’t say goodbye without exclaiming “VENGA!”
3. Tortilla de patatas and pan con tomato is a perfect meal for any occasion.
4. You know that “Sangria” and “tinto de veranos” are the liquid fuel of champions.
5. You start complaining about days without clear sunshine.
6. Ordering tapas instead of a meal at the restaurant becomes natural.
7. Sandals replace your daily shoes.
8. Lunch time begins after 2pm, because evenings start to get longer.
9. You pick up abandoned furniture off the street for your flat.
10. Your speed of walking decreases.
11. Queuing at the supermarket without chafing at the salesperson becomes normal.
12. You start complaining (“Que frio”), when temperature drops under 25 degrees.
13. You kiss people’s cheeks, when you meet them the first time.
14. On your messages you sometimes write “jajaja” instead of “hahaha”.
15. Your personal space turns into public one.
16. Every sentence you speak in Spanish contains at least one of these words: “bueno”, “coño, “vale”, “venga”, “es que”…
17. You know that after 2pm there’s no point in going shopping, so you plan it for the evening.
18. If you plan to meet with a friend at half past 4, that’s a general point of reference where punctuality is neither expected or adhered to.
19. You think adding lemonade, fanta or even coke to red wine is perfectly acceptable.
20. There’s no way you can eat any meal without having a “café con leche” or “cortado” afterwards.
21. You use public places like your own terrace.
22. You forget to say please (por favor) or thanks (gracias) when you order a drink at the bar – you implied it in your tone of voice, right?
23. You drink several coffees a day, especially in the morning.
24. You have no problem bringing your small kids to festivals past midnight.
25. You’ve mastered the art of partying until 8am.

Illora Castle - Castillo de Illora

This medieval fortification is situated on the rocky elevation that arises in the middle of the town
This walled castle was built by the Muslims in the 10^th and 11^th centuries and includes Caliphate and Taifas elements. It was restored in the 14^th century in the Nasrid period, during which the building’s definitive configuration was planned and built.

 

It was the backdrop of a number of important political events. It has three enclosures: the house, the fortress and the surrounding areas.

It was captured by the Catholic Kings in 1486.
On the top the towers of the castle are easily recognisable. They are fondly called ‘the old woman’s teeth’ because of their appearance. Further down, there are the remains of two walled enclosures that protected the castle’s surrounding area, which was also where the Aljamá Mosque was situated.

In 2011 Illora town was awarded a European Grant to restore the castle, and work commenced on 30 July 2012.  Funds have been received from the Ministerio de Fomento and the Ayuntamiento of Illora, with costs running into millions of Euros.

Initially, excavations took place to ascertain the archeological importance of the site.

Work is ongoing and very impressive ...... (following pictures from Angel Lopez)

Medieval Market In Illora

Traditionally each year there is a Medieval market held in front of the Church in Illora.
Initially this began as a few stalls selling items and a refreshment stand, but has now progressed to something much larger, with around twenty stalls selling a variety of crafts and handmade goods, herbs and spices, sweetmeats and wooden goods.

 

This year it also featured a display of Birds Of Prey, and for the pricely sum of €3 you could have your photo taken with a huge yellow snake coiled around your neck! Not for the faint hearted.

The aromas from the food stalls were enticing, from the huge BBQ joints of port to the waffles with cream and chocolate spread, something for everyone.

Corpus Christi in Illora

Corpus Christi in Granada is celebrated with a week long fiesta and many processions in the City.
Here in Illora the streets were decorated on Sunday evening with altars, plants and decorations.  On Sunday evening a procession made it's way around the streets, with the Priest making a blessing at each altar on route. The children who have recently been confirmed into the Church also took part.

Fiesta for new Pilar Alto (Horse Fountain)

This weekend saw the celebration of the opening of the new Pilar Alto (Horse Fountain) after it's restoration.
As with any fiesta party in Spain, plenty of drink and tapas was on offer, and music with Spanish dancing on display.

Coffee & Colours (previously Bar Elstribo)

In April 2015, Bar Elstribo has been taken over by new Management, and is now known as Coffee & Colours.

With an interior restyle, the theme is "modern and trendy", now serving coffees, cocktails and fruit tobaccos.
The terrace has been renovated and now offers a relaxing place to sit and have a drink under the rocks of the castle of Illora. Tables and chairs are also placed outside on the front terrace on the street in the summer evenings.

Pepe is your friendly bar Manager, serving a variety of tapas.

Avenida D'Tapas

Earlier this year, Bar Fran changed hands and now has a new Manager, Christian, formerly of Elstribo Bar.

The Bar has been renamed Avenido D'Tapas, and now serves a variety of tapas of your choice from the menu card.

 

A very popular bar with an outside terrace, and also showing football on large screen TVs inside the Bar.

 

Feria de Tapas 2015

The winner of the 2015 Tapas Feria in Illora has been announced

Bar Parador de Campesino

and the winning tapas was