Gorafe: Megalithic Tombs, Gorges and Routes

In Gorafe, the landscape of megalithism along the Río Gor preserves 155 megalithic tombs grouped into ten necropolises.

The megalithic complex of Gorafe comprises 240 dolmens, 198 of which have been studied and catalogued. Most of the dolmens are distributed across four megalithic parks: Llano de los Olivares, Las Majadillas, Hoyas del Conquín Alto and Hoyas del Conquín Bajo. The Gorafe dolmens are dated to up to around 5,000 years ago; a large proportion of these tombs were used from the Late Neolithic, from 2800 to 2600 BC, through the Full Copper Age, from 2400 to 2200 BC. Their chronology therefore ranges from the Late Neolithic to the Full Copper Age, revealing the long history of use of the burial sites.

Culture

The Centro de Interpretación del Megalitismo de Gorafe explains the significance of the dolmen complex and has five exhibition areas with audiovisual media. Via Bluetooth, visitors can download an application to their mobile phone containing detailed information about the three routes in the Parque Megalítico de Gorafe.

The Complejo Astronómico Los Coloraos offers public and private astronomical observations, as well as activities promoting scientific knowledge.

Landscape

The Río Gor has carved an almost 200-metre-deep gorge into the geological materials of the glacis of the Sierra de Baza.

The Los Coloraos area features cliffs shaped by differential erosion, resembling walls with bastions and crowned by a whitish escarpment. Los Coloraos is incorporated into the “Desierto de Gorafe” geo-route.

The landscape of Vereda Chirlata combines arid or steppe-like vegetation with large gorges and multicoloured, almost horizontal rock layers. These layers have been cut through by rivers and shape the course of the route, along with the intense erosion.

Routes

The Vereda Chirlata route begins in Gorafe and passes through a landscape characterised by intense erosion, arid or steppe-like vegetation, large gorges and multicoloured, almost horizontal rock layers cut through by rivers.

The Vereda Chirlata route offers cultural, scenic and sporting experiences.

A hiking route leads to dolmens on the upper plateau and then to another nearby concentration offering good views of the Río Gor valley.

A route leads to rock paintings, or petroglyphs, in the province of Granada, described as the oldest in the province and very well preserved.

Access

A four-wheel-drive vehicle is required to access Los Coloraos; alternatively, several companies offer specialised services for guided visits to the Gorafe desert.

From Gorafe, a mostly paved, winding road leads up to the plateau.

Other directly linked destinations are: Escúzar, Zújar, Yátor, Ítrabo, Picena, Fuensanta, Los Carriones and Albolote.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.