Mairena: Trails, Views and Village Traditions

Hiking Trails through Mairena

The PR-A 421 – Sendero Acequia Real de Mairena is 9 kilometres long. The route takes 2 hours and 40 minutes on foot and 40 minutes by bicycle.

The trail begins at the entrance to Mairena, leads through the town centre to Las Eras, follows the Acequia Real de Mairena, and returns via the road from Júbar. Stay on the trail and respect private property.

A section of the GR-7 follows former connecting routes through the Alpujarra and passes through Mairena. The Camino de la Sierra is a 5-kilometre route from Mairena via the Acequia Real and Júbar back to Mairena.

Landscape and Views

From the viewpoint at the hermitage of Mairena, there are views of the Sierra de la Contraviesa, the Sierra de Gádor, the Sierra Nevada, and more than ten surrounding villages.

The Mirador de Mairena offers views of the village and also has an outdoor fitness area for adults.

The Peñón de la Alfaguara offers views of the landscape and the village; the site contains evidence of a medieval cemetery.

The Castaño Grande de los Molinos is a large tree in the chestnut grove of Praomonte near Mairena. Below Mairena, a track runs through orchards and agricultural land to the road from Laroles to Valor.

History and Places of Interest

Water is still collected at the historic Fuente Alta in Mairena because of its taste and the properties attributed to it. The Lavadero de Mairena lies below the Fuente Alta and is considered an important public place for work and communication among women.

The present-day Iglesia Parroquial del Santo Cristo de la Luz in Mairena was begun in 1704 and is an example of the continuing religious Mudéjar architectural tradition. The earlier building on this site was constructed between 1604 and 1610.

Las Eras is considered the largest and best-preserved group of traditional threshing floors in the surrounding area. Above Mairena, there is also a group of seven threshing floors built from large flat stones for agricultural purposes.

The Piedra de los Tiempos lies in the immediate vicinity of Mairena and is a legendary rock once believed to possess benevolent powers for the harvests. The Molino de la Trujilla is a notable mill in Mairena.

Customs and Cuisine

Ollas de San Marcos is a communal dish made with bacon, blood sausages, cardoons, fennel, pulses, and potatoes.

During the procession of the Ollas de San Marcos in Mairena, people go to the Piedra de los Tiempos, where the fields are blessed. The San Juan custom in Mairena on 23 June includes washing one’s face at the Fuente Alta.

The Santo Cristo de la Luz festival is associated with 18 September in Mairena and includes a procession on Saturday afternoon, ribbon races, and a nighttime verbena. The Ollas de San Marcos festival is associated with 25 April in Mairena.

For the main travel overview: Laroles.