Deifontes: El Nacimiento and the Atalaya Route

Waterscape

At El Nacimiento, a spring area about one kilometre from the centre of Deifontes, water bubbles up through sandy pools. The average flow is 1,000 litres per second. Poplars, rockroses, elms and willows provide shade for the pools. The Cubillas River runs through El Nacimiento; there are two dams there. One is modern, while the other is severely deteriorated but still preserves its original Roman stone blocks. The gardens are open daily to everyone who wishes to enjoy peace and harmony there.

Historic Sites

Deifontes is listed as a locality on the Ruta de los Nazaríes between Iznalloz and Albolote. This route lists the Deifontes tower as one of the surviving watchtowers and castle remains along the route. La Atalaya was built as a watchtower in the 14th century during the Nasrid period. From there, the entire valley of the Cubillas River can be seen from Iznalloz, across mountains and plains, to the Cubillas Reservoir and neighbouring towns. La Atalaya formed part of an Arab communications and alarm network for defending Arab settlements.

The Casa Palacio de los Condes de Antillón, later the Palace of the Marquises of Casablanca, now houses Deifontes Town Hall.

Archaeology and Architecture

The Presa de Barcinas is a Roman structure dating approximately from the 1st or 2nd century BC, built to hold back the waters of the Cubillas River. Roman, Arab and Neolithic remains have been found at the Las Erillas archaeological site. At Venta del Nacimiento, stone columns from Roman structures have been preserved; they presumably belonged to a temple dedicated to the god of water.

The Iglesia de San Martín was built in the 17th century in the Mudéjar style over an existing small chapel. Its single-nave layout features an artistic coffered ceiling with lacería decoration. The building also includes a three-storey bell tower with a distinctive pointed hipped roof.

At La Fábrica de la Luz, the remains of two former hydroelectric power stations can still be seen.

Hiking and Local Products

The Arab Atalaya Route begins in Deifontes and runs along the Camino de la Atalaya, via Pico del Llano and Collado de la Atalaya, to La Atalaya de Deifontes. On the ascent, it passes through olive groves towards the Sierra Arana.

The San Isidro de Deifontes cooperative offers extra virgin olive oil and organic olive oil as products. The olive oil brands it lists are Coprovir, Ecovir and Fuentes de Dios.

Getting There and Event

Deifontes can be reached from Granada via the A-44. At kilometre 108 of the A-44, take the turn-off onto the C-336. In October, the municipality hosts a rapid chess tournament that is considered one of the best tournaments of its kind in Spain.

Find more destinations at: Gor, Peligros, Cuevas Del Campo, Los Balcones, Albuñuelas, Graena, Alpujarra De La Sierra, Villamena.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.