Huércal de Almería: Culture, Trails and Historic Sites

Culture and Architectural History

Torre Cárdenas is a watchtower built in the 16th century under Gutierre de Cárdenas to monitor potential invasion threats.

Torre Cárdenas offers views over the city of Almería, the villages of the Bajo Andarax and the surrounding sierras.

The Church of Huércal de Almería combines a Mudéjar structural base built in the 16th century with Baroque extensions from the first half of the 18th century, and preserves remains of a Mudéjar roof structure as well as so-called diaphragm arches.

Villa María is a country house built in 1902 with an indiano-inspired character and a modernist orientation; Villa María is also classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Palacio de Boleas, built in the 18th century, was demolished in the 1980s; the municipality of Huércal de Almería acquired its portal to install it at the entrance of the present-day public library.

The Alcoholera Almeriense was a former winery where alcohol was later also produced.

Chapels and Visiting

The Ermita de la Peinada is a small historicist chapel from the late 19th century that formerly served the religious needs of the workers on the estate of the same name.

Its unusual triangular floor plan was shaped by the course of the property boundary and the adjacent path.

The Church of Huércal de Almería has limited visiting hours, which vary depending on the season; arranging an appointment in advance is advisable.

To visit the Ermita de la Peinada, prior contact with the owners of the nearby homes is required.

The exterior areas of the Alcoholera Almeriense can be visited; prior arrangements with the owners are required for interior visits.

The Andarax River and Landscape

The section of the Andarax River in Huércal de Almería is 4.5 kilometres long and forms the municipal boundary with Pechina and Viator.

The Andarax River corridor features riparian vegetation including reeds, tamarisks and gandules, and is visited by various bird species, including stilts and cattle egrets.

The section of the Andarax River in Huércal de Almería is suitable for hiking, mountain biking, landscape interpretation and health-oriented walks.

Trails for Active Exploration

The Camino Mozárabe de Santiago passes through the urban area of Huércal de Almería, going by the railway station and church, crossing the Andarax River and then continuing into the municipality of Pechina.

The Camino Mozárabe de Santiago in Huércal de Almería can be used for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding.

Huércal de Almería has a network of more than 13 kilometres of cycle paths designed as cycle streets, extending through the urban areas of the municipality to the Cinturón Verde, Villa Inés and the El Potro district.

Huércal de Almería’s location at the foot of the Sierra de Gádor makes hiking and high-mountain cycling possible.

Religious Traditions

For the celebration of the Virgen del Carmen, on 15 July the Marian image is taken from the chapel in the El Potro district to the parish church and later carried back there in a procession or pilgrimage.

The tradition in honour of the Virgen del Carmen is observed both in the historic district of Huércal de Almería and in the El Potro district, each with its own ritual.

Holy Week in Huércal de Almería includes several processions, including the particularly prominent “Procesión del Encuentro”.

Other places include: Sorbas, Láujar De Andarax, Serón, Tonosa, Roquetas De Mar, Berja, Costacabana, La Envía.

To the broader travel overview: Almeria.