Almedinilla: Roman Heritage, Landscape and Lively Festivals

The Roman Villa “El Ruedo” dates from the 1st to the 7th century AD and has one of the most complete surviving floor plans of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula. The site is designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest.

Culture

The Historical-Archaeological Museum covers 1,200 m² distributed across four rooms. The museum area “Sala del Aceite y del Olivo” explains the various historical uses of oil and preserves original machinery from an old oil mill dating from the early 20th century.

The Iberian settlement “El Cerro de La Cruz” is designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest and is one of the few excavated settlements from the late Iberian period, dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, in Andalusia.

The present-day Church of San Juan Bautista was built in 1978; only the masonry of the earlier church, built in 1769, remains. Inside are a life-size anonymous crucifix from the 17th century with Sevillian stylistic features from the mid-17th century, as well as a polychrome carved figure of Saint John the Baptist in painted wood from the workshop of Alonso de Mena, dating from around 1630.

The clock tower of Almedinilla was built in 1934 during the Second Republic. Works by invited artists were presented in the rooms of the Roman Villa “El Ruedo” to explain and reflect on the archaeological site through contemporary art.

Other destinations to discover include La Guijarrosa, Zambra, Fernán-Núñez, Montemayor, El Cañuelo, Pozoblanco, La Celada and Pedro Abad.

Landscape and Trails

The Salto del Caballo path runs parallel to the Caicena River and leads to the Salto del Caballo waterfall. The Salto del Caballo hiking route is 1.5 km long, takes approximately 45 minutes and is classified as easy.

The Arroyo Granada hiking route begins in the Fuente Ribera landscape area. It is 12 km long, takes approximately three hours and is classified as moderate.

The Arroyo Granada route passes traditional olive groves near Fuente Grande and ends in the hamlet of Venta Valero, which borders the provinces of Granada and Jaén.

The Fuente Ribera landscape area includes historic public washing places and a water-powered grain mill that also contributed to electricity generation in the 1920s. The Peña del Pingorote rock offers panoramic views over Almedinilla.

Events

The Festum includes visits to archaeological sites with theatrical performances depicting historical reconstructions. Its “Calle Romana” portrays everyday Roman life and includes stalls with handcrafted reproductions, Roman houses, rituals and a Roman tavern.

Since 2016, Almedinilla has hosted the “Villa de los Sueños” youth festival of Greco-Roman theatre every April; groups from all over Andalusia take part. The festival introduces classical Greek and Latin theatre texts to students at secondary schools.

In the Roman mosaics workshop, each participant can make their own mosaic using plaster pieces based on a template. On certain days in late December and early January, the Palacio Real de Los Reyes Magos offers families a guided tour through the palace rooms with figures and a storyline revolving around magical keys.

In Almedinilla, the night of “La Encantá” is celebrated on the night of 23 June as part of the San Juan festivities. It includes a procession through the town, four stations depicting the natural elements of earth, water, wind and fire, as well as a historical re-enactment on the Caicena River.

An amateur theatre festival takes place in Almedinilla between March and April.

Roman Feast

The experience “Convivium – The Pleasures of the Roman Table” includes Roman rituals such as perfume ceremonies, hand-washing and crowning, as well as Roman pantomime. “The Pleasures of the Roman Table”, also known as “Convivium”, offers lunch or dinner featuring recipes from the “Reconquinaria” by Marco Gavio Apicius from the 1st century. The experience usually takes place on Saturdays and Sundays.

For the broader travel overview: Córdoba.