Soportujar in Spain and its witches
When glancing at the pretty white village of Soportujar on the hillside, it looks like any other of its kind. The village nestles in the Alpujarra region of Granada in Spain and is not just an ordinary place. Meanwhile, Soportujar boasts that it is the home of witches and its narrow, cobbled streets reveal fascinating “proof” of that fact. Moreover, strolling through the pretty, narrow alleyways reveals beautiful white homes, pretty flowers and offers a spooky feeling while exploring. As visitors stroll, they never know what they are going to find around the next corner. There are witches, clustered around a cauldron, giant spiders and quaint street signs hung on a witch’s broom.About the village’s history
The village of Soportujar traces its history back to the 13th century, when it was first occupied by the Moors. Meanwhile, when the Castilian forces took back the country, the tiny village became a Christian location. While the streets still display signs of witches and paganism, the village still celebrates all the Catholic feast days.While there is a history of witches and other supernatural beings in the village, the town’s authorities wanted to attract tourism to aid the local economy. Much like the famous Smurf village of Juzcar, a white village painted blue to celebrate the release of the movie, they believed the witchy and supernatural side would attract visitors. Meanwhile, it officially became the town of witches in 2007.
Meanwhile, houses in the village still have street numbers, but they often feature a witch on her broomstick. As mentioned above, the street signs feature smiling broomsticks, while the village’s central fountain features witches stirring their cauldron, and snakes appear on the walls. Visitors can even find a broomstick or two to take selfies on while a giant spider looks on.Hansel and Gretel
Amazingly, the witch’s colorful gingerbread house from Hansel and Gretel, set to attract unsuspecting children, also stands in one of the streets. There is literally a witchy or supernatural display around every corner, while streets often bear signs of the witches’ magical spells.In 2018, it was revealed that Soportujar had only 266 residents, but they are all friendly and happy to welcome travelers to their magical streets.
When visiting the historic city of Granada, make sure to take a day trip to Soportujar and share its unique, Instagrammable attractions with your friends and family. The village is a 1 hr 8 min drive away on the A-44. On the way back, take a detour from the main highway to explore other attractive white villages in the Alpujarras of Granada, Spain.
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