Cuevas de Ambrosio: Cave Houses, Olive Oil and Hiking Trails

Cuevas de Ambrosio is situated on a hill made of tuff limestone; at the foot of the village, the Beas and Bastagoya streams converge. The mountains around Cuevas de Ambrosio are covered with olive groves. The village lies in one of the most extensive floodplains in the surrounding area; this also includes Cañada Catena and extends at its western end to the centre of Beas de Segura. Opposite Cuevas de Ambrosio is Cerro Burdés, whose summit is crowned by a rocky ridge.

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Culture

The oldest houses in Cuevas de Ambrosio were built under the protection of a rock overhang or a cave. These cave- or rock-sheltered houses were formerly used as livestock stables and also as overnight shelters for herds being driven from Beas towards the Sierra. According to local legend, Cerro Burdés contains a deep cave with numerous branches and seemingly endless shafts. Local veneration of the Virgen del Rosario has been documented in Beas since at least 1753; at that time, there was also a separate brotherhood there.

Festivals

Around 15 August, Cuevas de Ambrosio holds festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rosario, featuring a public dance evening at the weekend and various leisure activities. During the celebrations, the image of the Virgen del Rosario is carried in a procession to the district of Cortijos Las Piedras and returns to its church in Cuevas de Ambrosio on Sunday morning.

Olive Oil

On its section between Beas and Cortijos Nuevos, the Ruta Cultural del Aceite passes through Cuevas de Ambrosio. The local olive mill can be visited or explored along the section of the Ruta Cultural del Aceite in Cuevas de Ambrosio. Cuevas de Ambrosio also offers a guided visit to an olive mill, during which the production of extra virgin olive oil is explained from the delivery of the olives through to bottling.

Hiking

The PR-BS-24 circular hiking route begins at Plaza de la Constitución by the church in Cuevas de Ambrosio. It passes through Cazona and El Toconal and follows the Arroyo Bastagoya. The PR-BS-25 El Ciruelo hiking route also begins at Plaza de la Constitución by the church in Cuevas de Ambrosio. The PR-BS-25 El Ciruelo circular hiking route is 12.65 kilometres long and classified as moderately difficult. It climbs into the mountainous area known as El Ciruelo, which is also referred to as Cerro de Hornos. On the descent, the PR-BS-25 hiking route leads to the Arroyo Ciruelo, where it meets the path to Cazona again.

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