Las Alpujarras

Once terraced and farmed by the Berbers of Al-Andalus, the Alpujarras became the refuge for prince Boabdil and his followers after he surrendered Granada in 1492, though he soon moved on to Morocco A few decades later the area was a stronghold for the Morisco rebellions, ferociously quashed. Fast forward five centuries and these bucolic gorges and foothills of the Sierra Nevada are a haven for alternative lifestyles; some new agers live in teepees, others teach yoga or meditation, and many are foreign A few write books, the pioneer being Gerald Brenan back in the 1920s, and more recently the ex-rock musician-cum-sheep farmer, Chris Stewart. The dawdling pace, clean air, inspiring scenery, and local personalities are clearly conducive.