Around 1,000 kilos of pork products are given away each year near the end of February during the 'Slaughter Festival' in the Malaga town of Ardales. The small town of 110 square kilometres is situated within the Guadalhorce Valley.

There will be sausage, salami, gizzards, paella, stew and tripe, all given out by local residents who spend most of the morning preparing the meats.

The pork is usually all gone within four hours but you can continue to eat all day, sampling local produce whilst Rocio Choirs entertain.

The event started in 1997 to mark the cattle trade that dates back to Roman times. The town wanted to bring back the slaughter day tradition to show the younger generations how it used to be done. The pigs are no longer slaughtered in public though, in order not to scare the tourists.

The slaughter begins at around 6am with the slaughter and the preparations.

Ardales Info

Population of around 2,700 spread over 110km square. The twon of Ardales sits at 454 metres above sea level and is located 62.5 km from Malaga city.

Outstanding sights include
Church of Nuestra Senora de los Remedios

Ruins of Bobastro

Castillo de la Pena

Capuchin Convent

Caves

Caminito del Rey

Reservoir area

Tourist Info

Plaza de Constitucion,1

Tel (0034) 952 468 087

email: ardales@spode.es