Continuing along Calle Real, a few meteres beyond the junction with c/ Hernando el Darra,  we find a pictureque alleyway on our left, which leads to the Garden of El Portón, where there are a number of options to take a drink or something more substantial, although if we prefer we can simply descend the steps to admire the view and take some photographs before continuing our stroll through the historic quarter.

So we return to Calle Real which will lead us to the Plaza de la Iglesia (church square).

Before we arrive at the church square, however, our route will present us with a large number of corners garlanded with shrubs and flowers, especially in the springtime when the inhabitants make the most of the colours of the natural vegetation by placing plant pots in every conceivable corner.

Just before arriving at Callejón del Estanco, we encounter another narrow, steep alleyway which directly links Calle Real with the end of c/ Hernando el Darra, and the start of Calle Amargura. We can, if we choose take this alleyway and go up into the Barribarto, either by turning left up c/ Amargura or by turning right and then left through the archway to go up to the Mirador del Peñon. This is a point at ehich it is for the visitor to choose which route to follow, as the old quarter is a patchwork of alleyways criss-crossing each other, but which all one way or another finish by reaching the nerve centre of the area, the Plaza de la Iglesia. For our chosen route we shall continue striaght ahead to the church.

At the entrance to Callejón del Estanco is a beautiful fountain, an exact replica of the one that stood here many years ago and which was used by the neighbours to carry water in large pitchers to their houses. The original fountain disappeared many years ago, and so this replica was commissioned to take its place.

The route to the Plaza de la Iglesia presents us with a host of side turnings to left and right, which should not be ignored because it is in these corners that a special enchantment can be experienced. Thus, just opposite La Huerta, which would lead us down to Avenida Carlos Cano and the sports centre, is the Callejón del Señor, a tiny enclosed area with a feel of the olden days.

Shortly, we now come to the area known locally as “la plazuela” or “la plazituela” (the little square) the site of the modern day townhall, and close by, one of the most beautiful corners in the historic town, El Torreon, used as a grane store in the middle of the XVIII century, but now converted into a number of houses. Contrary to what had always been believed until recently, it is unlikely that its origins are Arab, since the truncated pyramidal style of the architecture has nothing in common with known examples of Arab architecture. Rather it resembles more the designs which proliferated during the XVIII century for coastal watch towers to guard against piracy.

Whilst in the patio of El Torreon, we can see several large earthenware vessels, one of which is inscribed with a disturbing symbol, nothing less than a design which represents the three major faith groups - arab, sephardic and christian. It was the discovery of this symbol which led Frigiliana to style itself The Village Of The Three Cultures in its tourist marketing.

It is dangerous to try to read too much about the history of Frigiliana into this single inscription, but the existence of this vessel is significant to say the least. It was later decide d to use the symbol as the logo for the festival which annually attracts thousands of people to Frigiliana in the month of August.

Continue From the church to Santo Cirsto