Almayate Alto: Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Inland from Almayate

Culture and Archaeology

The Despoblado de Almayate Alto is an archaeological site with a medieval alquería. Only one element of this archaeological site is visible above ground: the remains of a tower. The Torre de la Alquería de Almayate is heavily deteriorated, but remains clearly identifiable within the archaeological site of the Nasrid alquería of Almayate. As a structure, the Torre de la Alquería de Almayate is a defensive and watchtower from the Nasrid period. It dates from the 13th to the 15th century. The visible architectural evidence is therefore concentrated in a single, clearly identifiable remnant of the former settlement. Its function as a defensive and watchtower connects the surviving structure with the history of the Nasrid alquería, even though the tower itself is heavily deteriorated.

Landscape

Almayate Alto is the inland, widely dispersed settlement area of Almayate. This settlement area is structured around the Ermita Alta. The Despoblado de Almayate Alto is located in a hilly landscape with partly steep slopes and significant erosion. The quarry associated with Almayate Alto consists of calcareous sandstone. The settlement pattern and the landscape are closely connected: the area is not laid out compactly, but is widely dispersed and structured around the Ermita Alta. The slopes and erosion shape the spatial impression of the archaeological site, while the calcareous sandstone forms a distinct geological reference point within the history of the settlement.

Culture

The Ermita de la Inmaculada Concepción in Almayate Alto is a simple chapel. Its entrance area has a austere design. The chapel has a lean-to roof and a small bell gable. As a cultural heritage site, the Ermita de la Inmaculada Concepción is classified as modern-contemporary and assigned protection level 1. The Noria de Almayate Alto is classified as contemporary cultural heritage with protection level 2. The chapel expresses its design through a few clearly identifiable structural elements: the austere entrance area, the lean-to roof, and the small bell gable. In addition to this religious building, the Noria is also part of the documented cultural heritage of Almayate Alto, although it has a different protection level.

History

The first known use of the Almayate Alto quarry included a Mozarabic rock church. The quarry was used again in the mid-18th century. This renewed use served to supply stone. This material was intended for the only tower of Málaga Cathedral. The history of the quarry thus encompasses two temporally separate phases of use. First, a Mozarabic rock church formed part of its known use; later, extraction resumed and was connected with a specific construction project in Málaga. The calcareous sandstone thus represents both the nature of the site and its historical use as a building material.

Christmas

Every year at Christmas, the residents of Almayate stage a living nativity scene at the end of December. The venue is the Colegio Público “Juan Paniagua”. The tradition is tied to a fixed period and a named venue. At the end of December, the school building thus becomes the setting for an annual performance staged by the residents of Almayate.

Other Places

Other places include Mezquitilla, Benajarafe, Chilches, Torre Del Mar, Trapiche and Almayate.

To the main travel overview: Vélez-Málaga.