Nestling in the beautiful Andalucian countryside you will find the charming village of Fuente de Piedra, this typical Andaluz village with its whitewashed houses with wrought iron protecting the balconies although very small has a great appeal to visitors. Located 17km north of Antequera in the province of Malaga its main attraction is the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra where you can see the only inland breading grounds for greater flamingos in Europe where it has been known to have up to 11,000 pairs breeding here during the good years.

Formally used for salt extraction the lake is 2.5km wide and 6.5km long. There is a reception area that offers information and although you can not enter the lake area itself you can see everything from outside the fence. Apart form the flamingos other important breading species include the Gull-billed Terns and Slender-billed Gulls. Other visiting birds include the Cranes and Stone Curlews who visit in the winter and during spring migration the site is popular with Waders. If you visit during the summer months it is best to visit early as the temperature in the area can get very high and the sun haze at noon makes identification if the birds impossible. There are 9 other small lagoons in the area which makes this part of Spain a great place to visit to see a great selection of bird life.

If you don’t fancy bird watching this charming little Andaluz village also has some beautiful buildings such as the Palace of the Marques of Fuente de Piedra, built in the neoclassic style in the 19th century and the church of the Virgin de la Vitudes (the patron saint of the village) which was built in 1891 and has an interesting main façade, with a rather gothic like stain glass window over the main entrance.

One other thing that attract many visitors is El Refugio del Burrito’ (The Donkey Sanctuary) where nearly 50 donkeys who have been saved from all over the world and are now been well cared for. Started in 2002 this well run charity is open to the public all the year round (October to March - from 11am until 6pm./April to September - from 11am until 7pm) For more information you should visit their website http://www.elrefugiodelburrito.com/. This is a pleasant day out for all the family and is well worth the drive up from the coast through the stunning Andalucian countryside

If you fancy staying in the village you will find very pleasant bed and breakfast establishments in the village or for the more adventurous you could try camping at Camping La Laguna. Near the lake you will find the Hotel Fuente Piedra a lovely little 3 star hotel with 14 comfortable fully equipped rooms , beautiful gardens , swimming pool and private parking

Eating out is a pleasant experience in Andalucia and this little village is no exception with around five or six small local bars and restaurants, where you can sample traditional dishes, such as gazpacho, rabbit in garlic or chic pea stew.

The festive calendar of this little Andaluz gem is quite full and begins on February 1st and 2nd with the Fiesta de La Candelaria. The carnival is scheduled for later on in the month, during which the people of the town take to the streets in fancy dress and enjoy the festivities with music and dancing. The festivities for February end with the Día de Andalucía on February 28th.
The next festival is in May to come along, with the Romería of Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes which takes place on the second Sunday of that month.
In July and August, depending on how the previous breeding season went, there is a ceremony at the lake to coincide with the ringing of the newly-born flamingoes which is a time enjoyed by both young and old and something the people of the town a really proud of.
The main summer feria takes place from July 22nd to 25th, and the festival in honour of the patron saint, Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes, takes place on September 7th and 8th and includes one of its most exhilarating events is the horse race with ribbons, officially declared to be of National Tourist Interest, where one can see the women dressed in the traditional Spanish mantilla. There are also processions through the streets and singing in praise of the Virgin at this time.

Getting there is very easy . If you are heading from Malaga you should take the N-331 highway past Antequera and the follow the signs to Fuente De Piedra or if you are coming from Seville you should take the A-92 and again look for signs to the village

This beautiful little village may be small but it is somewhere that would make a pleasant stop if you are planning on touring around Andalucia