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The Torcal de Antequera area is one of the best-kept secrets in the national territory of Spain. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most spectacular natural settings in Europe.

Located in the municipalities of Antequera and Villanueva, in La Concepción in the province of Malaga, this natural area is one of those that has positioned itself among the favourites of travellers who are committed to rural tourism, and who decide to get away from the big cities and crowded coastlines.

Before reviewing its main attractions, it is important to remember that we are talking about a protected natural space within the RENPA ( Red de Espacios Naturales Protegidos de Andalucía)   therefore, those who are passing through must comply with certain mandatory regulations, which are designed precisely to preserve the practically virgin environment.

That being said, the best thing about Torcal de Antequera is its many trails, most of which lead to incredible viewpoints; without forgetting the Torcal Alto Visitor Center, the meeting point for travellers, and the place where the basic services of this area are offered.

There are several ways to enjoy this area, either through a free visit or by hiring a guided tour, in which an expert guides the group through the essential points that must be seen in the area, which makes sense for all first-time visitors.

Additionally, there are other activities, such as astronomical observations, summer night events, and excursion plans suitable and recommended for the whole family. To discover more visit:

http://www.torcaldeantequera.com/

At more than 1,200 meters above sea level, the Torcal de Antequera also requires that we take certain precautions before embarking on the getaway, such as buying or renting mountain clothing, especially boots, coats and backpacks to be well prepared. 

With no opening or closing hours, it is always advisable to take the mountain road as soon as the sun rises to make the most of the day. Among its marked trails, which are three, there are two that have been adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Undoubtedly, the El Torcal Natural Park is characterized by the impressive Karstic landscape.

Its formation is due to a process that has lasted several hundred million years. To understand this we must go back some 200 million years, when much of Europe and the Middle East were submerged under the Tethys Sea, a process of carbonate sedimentation begins, caused by the accumulation and deposit of skeletons, shells and shells of marine animals at the bottom of the sea that will last about 175 million years. These sediments have been accumulating and compacting at different levels, forming horizontal strata thousands of meters thick.

Towards the middle Miocene, as a consequence of the thrust between the Iberian plates to the north of the Tethys Sea and the African plate to the south, the accumulated sediments are compressed, deformed and fractured until they emerge in a slow and continuous process that is still ongoing. Once the relief emerged, the prolonged action of meteorological agents such as water, ice and wind on the limestone, modelled the spectacular karstic landscape of El Torcal de Antequera.

The geological structure of the El Torcal Natural Park is another aspect that has favoured the process of limestone dissolution. A large mushroom-shaped fold, with a very wide upper part and horizontal strata, and short, abrupt flanks, limited by important fractures, favours the accumulation of water on the surface and its infiltration. The karst behaves like a large sponge, it stores rainwater and transmits it to the interior, thus favouring underground dissolution, to finally evacuate it back to the outside through its lowest part, along the entire perimeter. The most important spring in The Torch is the Nacimiento de La Villa, located on the north face.

Apart from the karstic landscape that we can all appreciate with a simple glance, we have to take into account the characteristic endokarstic system in this type of terrain and that in El Torcal translates into more than a thousand potholes and caves formed by the dissolution of limestone.

Lidl, the German supermarket chain, has improved its oenological offer and offers a wide variety of good quality red wines at more than affordable prices. They have red wines on their shelves that will surprise you because they are so good for the price you see on the label.

These red wines from Lidl have great scores and belong to Designations of Origin that really support quality. Here are  3 wines that are currently available in Lidl and are really worth trying:

Supernova Wine.

Supernova oak red wine. It achieved  5 stars in the Peñín Guide, indicating that its quality is very good for the price. It belongs to the Designation of Origin Ribera del Duero made in one of the most outstanding wineries, Bodegas Briego. Made with 100% Tempranillo grapes, they make it one of the best young red wines. A perfect wine to pair with smoked dishes, such as salmon, as well as appetizers such as anchovies, roasted peppers, cheese etc.

Castaño Wine. 

Castaño organic red wine. It is a Designation of Origin from Yecla that costs just over 5 euros a bottle at Lidl. Intense cherry red colour. On the nose, it shows notes of fresh fruit (black cherry, plum) and an elegant herbal touch. Really smooth on the palate, and very fruity with long-lasting velvety tannins. It is perfect for pairing seasoned pizzas with tomato sauce and cured cheeses. Spicy chicken wings, oily fish like salmon, and even grilled sardines. Recommended service temperature between 15-16ºC.

Irresistible Wine

Excellent organic red wine. A wine from the Manchuela Denomination of Origin, with a score of 89 in the Peñín Guide. It has a cherry colour with a violet rim and a bright appearance. On the palate, it is powerful, with round and persistent tannins. While, on the nose, it presents aromas of red fruits in compote, floral and balsamic notes. It is a perfect wine to share at family gatherings or with friends while eating pasta, rice dishes, white meats or white cheeses.

Enjoy!

Some pests are typically summer visitors, such as mosquitoes or flies, but changes in environmental or climatic conditions, as well as the expansion of some species of invasive insects in the context of globalization, are altering and complicating these sanitary controls. The tiger mosquito, rats and bed bugs are some of the most fearsome pests; but there are more... Environmental health professionals are concerned and ask that we don't lose sight of this as things can get out of control very quickly... These are the 7 summer plagues...

1) Rodents

The presence of rodents has risen between 20% and 25%, according to the Catalan Association of Environmental Health Companies of Catalonia (Adepap). "The rats are now more daring and brazen," says Quim Sendra, its president. It is an effect of having gained ground during confinement. The result is the sensation that many citizens now see them twice as much as before.

The changing habits of rats and the increase in restrictions on the use of some biocidal products, added to the great adaptability of rodents and the resistance that sometimes appears makes it increasingly complex to maintain populations below the established tolerance thresholds.

Companies in the sector ask the Ministry of Health for exceptions to relax the restrictions imposed on the use of insecticides.

Rats have space and more food resources in cities; and if its only predator, man, loosens the controls and treatments, the pests will increase, warns Sendra, who is concerned about the risk that the administration's decision to lower their guard and reduce the budgets and the technical personnel dedicated to this task. Rats are very harmful to environmental health since they are carriers of insects or arthropods that can transmit zoonotic diseases.

2) Tiger mosquito

Precipitation in the spring, as well as high temperatures, have created a breeding ground for mosquitoes, creating ideal habitats for the larval stage.

These conditions favour the increase in adult mosquito populations, which are the ones that cause the main discomfort to people with their bites, as well as with the possible transmission of viruses and diseases.

Climate change means that many species are here all year round according to Quim Sendra, president of Adepap, referring to the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which has more diurnal activity than common mosquitoes and reproduces with very little water, stagnant in small spaces most of the year.

Professionals recommend preventing them from creating places conducive to laying eggs and the development of the aquatic larval phase (sewers, drains, sinks, pot trays, drums.)

3) Invasive species

Experts are closely following the recent arrival and expansion in Spain of Aedes japonicus, from the East, and Aedes aegypti, originally from Africa. Both species, along with the tiger mosquito, much more present in our country, are vectors of viruses such as dengue, chikungunya and zika, and there have been cases in humans in Spain.

By the end of summer, it is also expected that there will be an increase in the cases of Asian wasp hives ( Vespa velutina ssp. Nigrithorax ), a predator that attacks the honey bee, with a great capacity for adaptation, and which grows year after year in Spain. However, beekeepers from Girona have recently stated that the installation of more traps to capture Asian wasps in May has reduced the presence of this invader. The stings of this wasp cause intense pain, followed by itching similar to that of a burn.

4) Bed Bugs

The increase of bed bugs comes with tourism. "They travel with the tourists. They don't walk, they don't fly, but they travel through our luggage”, says president of Adepap. Bed bugs ( Cimex lectularius ) arrive at homes in most cases transported in their own clothes or travel bags. The pests of this insect are quite difficult to eliminate, since "during the day they hide in corners, cracks in the wood or folds of clothing, especially in mattresses and sofas, and come out at night to suck blood," says Sendra .

5) Cockroaches

Companies also predict the appearance of cockroach infestations (sewer, brown, oriental, black, and brown, common in homes and restaurants). Adepap emphasizes that to combat pests it is always better to have professionals, since "some misused domestic insecticides can become a problem for people's health, they are not always effective and end up having a high economic cost".

6) Black fly

Black fly (Simuliidae) plagues are located mainly in spaces such as rivers and streams, and often affect municipalities with abundant water flows. Before it was limited to areas such as the Ebro River; but in recent years it has spread to many riverbeds. The black fly bite is very annoying and painful; it can cause severe itching and even edema and requires treatment with antihistamines and antibiotics, in case of infection.

7) Fruit fly

Professionals see it as necessary to exercise extreme vigilance over Drosophila melanogaster, controlling both the food industry and domestic kitchens, since they can carry pathogenic microorganisms, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli bacteria, attached to the villi of the body and legs, and contaminate in this way food and surfaces on which they perch.

Stay alert and vigilant, the summer is upon us!