Darro: Architecture, Panoría and Cueva Horá

Culture

In the centre of Darro, Andalusian and some Manchegan architectural styles come together. The Anchurón area in Darro offers views of the rural surroundings, with extensive olive groves and colourful vineyards.

Find more places here: Pinos Puente, Granada, Puerto Lope, Otívar, Ugíjar, Pampaneira, Puebla De Don Fadrique and Pórtugos.

The Abrigos de Panoría are visible from the town of Darro: a group of five large rock shelters. One of the Abrigos de Panoría contains a preserved anthropomorphic rock painting of the “Swallow” type.

The rock shelters are therefore among the notable archaeological sites in the vicinity of the town. What can be seen is not only the group of five structures, but also a preserved depiction of a human figure with the traditional designation “Swallow”.

Access to the Anchurón viewpoint is via unpaved roads that must be driven on; four-wheel-drive vehicles are therefore recommended. The Abrigos de Panoría can also be reached via unpaved paths, for which four-wheel-drive vehicles are likewise recommended.

The different types of route form part of the description of both sites: unpaved roads lead to the Anchurón viewpoint, while the Abrigos de Panoría are reached via unpaved paths. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is expressly recommended for both accesses.

The megalithic necropolis of Panoria comprises 19 documented tombs, five of which have been excavated. Their burial chambers consist of orthostats and have trapezoidal, polygonal or rectangular floor plans. The structures also include short access corridors.

Panoria thus combines the number of documented tombs and excavated structures with architectural details of the burial chambers. The orthostats form the chamber walls; the documented floor plans range from trapezoidal and polygonal to rectangular, supplemented by short corridors.

History

The Panoria necropolis was used from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Its most intense ritual activity took place during the Copper Age.

This chronological classification describes use across several prehistoric periods. Within this span, the Copper Age occupies a special place because it is identified as the period of the most intense ritual activity.

The archaeological site of Cueva Horá is located in Darro, in the province of Granada. As a Bien de Interés Cultural, or BIC, it is protected under the category of archaeological zone. It was officially protected on 12 February 2002.

Cueva Horá is therefore associated both locally with Darro and the province of Granada and with a specific protection status. The designation BIC identifies the category of the protected archaeological area; 12 February 2002 is given as the date on which protection was granted.

The archaeological sequence of Cueva Horá extends from the end of the Lower Palaeolithic to later prehistory. Geologically, Cueva Horá is a rock shelter in the form of a natural bridge with a steep slope.

The site thus combines a very long archaeological sequence with a distinctive geological form. The described appearance includes the shape of a natural bridge and the steep slope of the rock shelter.

Festivities

The patron saint festivities in honour of San Tiburcio and Nuestra Señora del Amparo take place in Darro from 1 to 4 October. On 2 October, after Mass, the procession in honour of the Virgen del Amparo is carried exclusively by women.

The festive period lasts four days and explicitly names both patron saints. On 2 October, the procession of the Virgen del Amparo is associated with the religious service and a procession carried exclusively by women.

On 3 October, after Mass, San Tiburcio is carried through the streets of Darro exclusively by men.

Hiking

The Sierra route Camino Al Paleolítico (SL-A 032) passes through Darro.

In addition to its name, the route bears the designation SL-A 032 and is classified as a Sierra route. Its course passes through Darro.

To the higher-level travel overview: Granada.