San Pedro Alcántara facts for kids
San Pedro Alcántara is a lively town in Southern Spain. It is located in Andalucia, on the beautiful Costa del Sol. About 35,500 people live here.
The town is just 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) west of Marbella. You can easily reach it by major roads like the N340/A7 and the AP7 motorway. It is also simple to get to from cities like Málaga, Cádiz, Sevilla, and Ronda. The closest airports are in Málaga and Gibraltar, both less than an hour away by car.
San Pedro Alcántara sits in a special area called the Vega de San Pedro Alcántara. This is a wide, flat plain near the coast. It is surrounded by tall, rugged hills. To the east, you can see the Sierra Blanca mountains of Marbella. The highest peak there is Pico del Astonar, which is 1,270 meters (4,167 feet) high. Locals often call it "La Concha" (The Shell) because it looks like a seashell from the west.
Other mountains around the town include the Sierra del Real (or El Real del Duque), the Sierra de las Nieves, and the hills of Tolox to the north. To the west, there is Monte Mayor, and finally, the Sierra Bermeja completes the mountain range.
Contents
History of San Pedro Alcántara
How the Town Was Founded
San Pedro Alcántara was started in 1860 by a man named Manuel Gutiérrez de la Concha e Irigoyen. He was the first marquis of the Duero. He created it as a farming community. The town was named after his mother, Petra de Alcántara Irigoyen y de la Quintana, and a saint, San Pedro de Alcántara.
Turning Dry Land into Farms
The marquis had a big plan. He used many small dams and new farming tools from the United States. This helped turn a large, dry area into fertile land. The new farms needed skilled workers. Because the living conditions were good, many experienced farmers moved to the colony. They came from cities like Granada, Almería, Valencia, and Murcia.
Fun Things to Do
San Pedro Alcántara Fair
San Pedro Alcántara hosts the very last summer fair (called a "feria") in Andalucia each year. This exciting event usually starts around October 18th and lasts for four days. It is a time for celebration, music, and fun for everyone!
