Culturally significant landscapes in Almería

Understand

This route through the province of Almería proposes a journey along a selection of landscapes included in the Registry of Landscapes of Cultural Interest in Andalusia. Of the 117 landscapes in the register, 12 are in the province of Almería and, according to the categories that they have been classified in, are representative of its settlement system (3), obtaining and processing resources (7), security and defence (1), and the ideological and associative systems (1). Each has its own particular technical data sheet that condenses and analyses the information that has been collected. These documents can be used as an aid and, as they are referred to on the proposed route to help with the interpretation and enjoyment of the natural and cultural values of the Almerian landscapes.

In this territory, a large part of the land is so dry that it is the victim of encroaching desertification, and this, and its remoteness from large economic centres, are what have to a great extent determined the ways of life and Najjar distribution of a population that has traditionally been widely scattered to take advantage of the province’s limited resources. The mark that humans have left in its landscapes can be traced back to very remote times: places where archaeological sites bear witness to prehistoric settlements dating from the first and second millennia; to post Al Andalus era settlers who colonised uninhabited areas where people still live today, such as many of the small mountain villages, and the strategic defensive positions to maintain control over the territory and guard the mediaeval borders along the Moorish Strip and the coast. Mining has left a semblance in the landscapes of today of the miners of the past who excavated mountains for little return and the remains of the buildings constructed by the companies whose opportunism led to the area being abandoned once it had been stripped of its ore. Traditional agriculture spread around the river basins in a great system that uses water in narrow strips of mountainside land, terraces, channels, wells, underground cisterns and water wheels and mills, etc., stands in contrast to the more recent intensive agriculture in t

Prepare

The tour is designed to be done in a private vehicle. To use public transport, start from the Intermodal Station of Almería in the city of Almería, that buses depart for different parts of the province of Almería. Please consult the timetables for route planning purposes. However, some of the places indicated on the route may not be accessible by public transportation. Most of the accommodation offer, in all price ranges, is concentrated in the capital and in the area of Vera and Mojácar. For other destinations you should probably secure accommodation in advance. Due to its particular orography, the province presents a climatic variety that must be taken into account. At the same time of the year there will be places with mild and sunny weather, while in others it can be cold and rainy: it is advisable, especially in winter, to consider some warm clothes and consult the weather forecast before leaving. The rest of the year the weather is usually hot but milder than in other parts of Spain. The use of sunscreen should be seriously considered to prevent dehydration.

Get in

The route starts in Almeria, the capital of the province. It can be accessed by road, through which A-92 , A-7 , A-92N and AP-7 they are directly connected to cities such as Granada, Sevilla, Valencia, Murcia, Málaga or Cartagena. It can also be accessed by train from Granada and Madrid, by plane from Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Bilbao, London, Brussels and Santiago de Compostela. By boat can be accessed from Melilla, Oran and Nador. From the capital, a visitor could make their first stop at the Cultural Landscape of Los Millares.

Drive

1 Landscape of Los Millares

Route: Almería, N-340 , N-340a , A-348 , A-1075 , AL-3411 , Los Millares archaeological site (23.7 km (14.7 mi) - 32 min.) Arriving from the capital to the south, in this landscape you first make out and then progress further into the extensive archaeological site along both sides of the Huéchar rambla (dry channel) in Santa Fe de Mondújar and Gádor, whose chronology is focused around 2700-1800 BCE. Its location near the Gádor Mountains led to the construction of a great Copper Age town by the Andarax river, where the abundant copper mined. It became a great mining and trading centre with considerable political sway in Europe. Its powerful defensive structures stand out; it is fortified with three walls around the perimeter with their associated moats and bulwarks. There is also a unique burial ground with over a hundred tombs. It has a vaulted corridor and round chamber and line upon line of small natural mounds. Large amounts of pottery remains and metal tools have been found that greatly contribute to understanding the complex social structure that grew up in this stable settlement, which kept in close contact with other Mediterranean settlements through a roadway to the coast. The so-called State of Los Millares declined in the Bronze Age as a result of the technological revolution and changes in the political territorial control strategy, and remained abandoned until the area was Romanised by way of the Guadix-Pechina road and villaes were constructed. During the Al Andalus period, irrigation systems, market gardening and farmsteads proliferated. A boost was given to agriculture in the landscape, and so it has remained until the present day. In 1891, the archaeologist Luis Siret stumbled upon the prehistoric settlement and excavations began in 1913.

The following locations stand out in the area:

1 Los Millares' Archaeological Site This is the interpretation centre to visit the archaeological site of Los Millares. It consists of a main visitor reception building with models and dioramas, the recreation area of the Chalcolithic settlement and part of the site itself. The visit must be booked by e-mail or telephone. Acc

Stay safe

The itinerary passes through safe, low-crime areas. The usual security measures should be taken, such as keeping the car locked or having backpacks or other objects in sight. As in most of the rest of Spain, the rural police force is the Guardia Civil. Larger municipalities may have their own local police officers. In many places along the route there are no shaded areas, so it is advisable to bring sunscreen and a hat or cap during the hottest periods of the year. Access to many places may not be accessible or even require hiking shoes and clothing or similar. It should be taken into account that if you walk or drive along raivines, which are dry most of the year, you may be surprised by floods during the rainy season, so check the weather forecast and react quickly in case of unexpected rain. There are mine shafts along the Sierra Almagrera and Rodalquilar mines; some are signposted but this is not always the case. Walking without precautions can be dangerous.

Emergencies-112, ☏ 112. Guardia Civil, ☏ 062.

Stay healthy The nearest hospitals are:

1 Hospital Universitario de Torrecárdenas, Calle Hermandad de Donantes de Sangre, s/n., 04009, Almería, ☏ +34 950 01 61 14. 2 Hospital del Poniente, Crta. de Almerimar, S/N 04700 El Ejido, ☏ +34 950 02 25 68. 3 Hospital de La Inmaculada, Avda. Dra. Ana Parra, S/N 04600 Huércal-Overa, ☏ +34 950 02 91 76. 4 Hospital de Alta Resolución de El Toyo (Hospital del Toyo), Camino de La Botica S/N. 04131 Retamar (Almería).

Go next

Other destinations within the province of Almería:

1 Adra Coastal city founded in the 8th century BCE. 2 Almería Capital of the province of Almería. 3 Níjar Town with a beautiful old downtown. 4 Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park land and water natural park with great beaches and beautiful arid landscapes.