Los Naveros: Archaeology, Trails and Local Festivals

Archaeology and History

North of Los Naveros, the archaeological site of Los Banquetillos is located at the highest point of a small hill. Los Banquetillos is a necropolis carved into the rock, with anthropomorphic graves of different sizes for children and adults. The necropolis is provisionally attributed to the Hispano-Visigothic period between the 6th and 8th centuries AD. Its distinctive features therefore include both the location of the site and the grave forms carved directly into the rock. The different sizes of the graves are likewise part of the preserved evidence, as is their anthropomorphic design.

Sacred Art

The preserved figures include a statue of the Virgin Mary and a statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Both were created by the sculptor Luis González Rey, who was originally from Cádiz. A crucifix comes from the Cuervo Monastery. The sacred works therefore combine different references: the two statues were created by a sculptor from Cádiz, while the crucifix is attributed to the Cuervo Monastery. Thus, the preserved art in Los Naveros includes not only archaeological evidence but also religious artworks, each with its own origin.

Hiking and Running

The Cordel de los Marchantes hiking trail begins on the road to Medina and ends in Los Naveros, a pedanía belonging to the municipality of Vejer de la Frontera. If you are heading to the starting point, the approach is via Exit 7 of the A-48 and the A-390 towards Medina Sidonia. Nearby, the signs indicate “Finca Las Mesas.” The start, destination and named landmarks along the route are therefore clearly distinguished: the start is on the road to Medina, the destination is in Los Naveros, and access follows the indicated exit and the signage.

The Running Garbanzos de Naveros consists of two laps of 3.75 kilometres each and has a total length of 7.5 kilometres. 800 metres run on asphalt, while the remainder follows paths and tracks of medium difficulty. The route therefore combines two laps of equal length with different surfaces. In addition to the asphalt section, paths and tracks form part of the route; the medium level of difficulty refers to the remaining section. The total length and the length of the individual laps are listed separately.

Festivals and Local Flavours

The Fiesta de la Cruz de Mayo is a traditional local celebration scheduled for 2025 and 2026. At an event in Los Naveros, Callos con Garbanzos de Naveros is served for tasting. After a Mass, a procession passes through the streets of Los Naveros.

Public Space

A children’s playground is listed among municipal works to renovate public play areas.

You can also visit El Palmar as another local page.

For the overarching travel overview: Vejer De La Frontera.