# Culturally significant landscape in Vélez-Blanco

The culturally significant landscape of Vélez-Blanco takes you through a particular natural and cultural interest. Original reference documents are available on the Digital Guide to Andalusia’s Cultural Heritage website.
The route takes place in and around the city of Vélez-Blanco, in the Spanish province of Almería, and features a landscape included on the Register of Landscapes of Cultural Interest in Andalusia. The itinerary begins in Vélez-Blanco. Its purpose is to help you understand the various ways in which people have related to and continue to relate to the places they call home, as well as how these interactions have given rise to various types of cultural landscapes. Not only do these landscapes contribute to the uniqueness of the province, they also represent examples of sustainable spatial development.
Original reference documents are available on the website of the Digital Guide to Andalusia’s Cultural Heritage.

## Understand

The town of Vélez-Blanco is found in a rugged part of Spain, surrounded by the mountains of Sierra María. These are made up of limestone and dolomite, and include the peak Muela de Montalviche (1,554 m) to the north-east, Maimón Grande (1,761 m) to the south, Maimón Chico (1,307 m) to the south-west, and Cerro El Gabar (1,511 m) to the north. To the east, there is also a vast valley with a large, fertile plain owing to an abundance of water in the area.
This location, which is ideal for allowing the abundant natural resources of the area to be harnessed as well as for controlling the surroundings, led to a large number of settlements being established here from prehistory. The remains of these can be found in the area near Vélez-Blanco. In the Middle Ages, during the al-Andalus period, a large rocky elevation offering sweeping views of the surrounding area was chosen as the site on which to build a fortress. This marked the beginning of Vélez-Blanco. The castle allowed the surrounding area to be effectively controlled and defended, and was a key part of the military strategy of the Banda Morisca. Following its capture by the Crown of Castile in 1570, it continued to be used and later became the seat of the Marquesses of Los Vélez in the 16th century, undergoing significant changes in the process. As such, it remained a prominent landmark in the town as Vélez-Blanco gradually expanded between the 15th and 19th centuries within the confines of the rocky terrain.
Vélez-Blanco belongs to the area known as Comarca de Los Vélez. It is located in the most northern part of the province of Almería at an altitude of 1,080 metres. The comarca is divided into four municipalities (Vélez-Blanco, María, Chirivel and Vélez-Rubio). With María on its western side and Vélez-Rubio on its southern side, Vélez-Blanco is the largest municipality and 30% of it falls within the Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park. The location of Vélez-Rubio in the northern-most part of Almería means it borders a number of different provinces and autonomous communities: Albacate (in Castilla-La Mancha), Granada (at the municipality of Puebla de Don Fadrique, in Andalusia), Jaén (in Andalusia) and Murcia (at the municipalities of Caravaca de la Cruz and Lorca). It is located 168 km from the provincial capital city Almería. Over the centuries and millennia, Vélez-Blanco has been home to Iberians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors. This is due to its height, the fact that it is part of a strategic link connecting the south and east of the peninsula and its role as a crossroads. Its abundance of water, which allows for irrigation farming, also made the area particularly attractive for settlers. This led to the creation of a network of irrigation ditches called acequias being built during the al-Andalus period. Near to Vélez-Blanco, we find the River Alcaide (also known as the River Caramel) and the River Claro (or River Corneros); the ramblas Rambla Mayor, Rambla de la Tía Apolonia, Rambla Seca and Rambla de Chirivel; ravines such as Barranco de la Fuente and Barranco de la Canastera, which various streams around the town run through; and various springs.
Vélez-Blanco also has a number of archaeological sites and caves of great interest, which were declared World Heritage Sites in 1998 as part of the ‘Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula’. One of the best examples from the Upper Palaeolithic and Neolithic can be seen in the cave known as Cueva de Ambrosio, a ‘Natural Monument of Andalusia’. Here, we find the rock painting of the Indalo, which has become a symbol of the Province of Almería. Cueva de los Letreros also offers outstanding examples of rock art from the Late Neolithic and Copper Age.
A particularly distinctive landmark on the landscape is the town’s castle. Originally the site of one of the most impenetrable Moorish fortresses (known as an alcazaba), what you see today is essentially a palace, built during the Renaissance. Well-preserved houses from the Middle Ages can also be found in Barrio de La Morería (the Moorish Quarter). This area of the town was once enclosed by a double wall designed to protect it. From the same period, we also find a network of irrigation ditches, some of which continue to be used today. Built during the al-Andalus period, these have played a key role in shaping the landscape of the plain near Vélez-Blanco.
In 1488, following the capture of the Emirate of Granada, the town and the area surrounding it were given to Don Pedro Fajardo y Chacón, upon whom the title of Marquess of Los Vélez was bestowed. The new marquess was tasked with the restoration of the Moorish castle. This led to a new palace-fortress being built, which continues to be one of the town’s main landmarks and a strong symbol of identity for locals.
The cultural landscape of Vélez-Blanco is one of sharp contrasts, shaped by mountains with lush forests and barren expanses as well as terraces used for farming. These are perched on the sides of the slopes that descend into the plain below, where vast fields of grain and olive groves are found. The result is a truly unique landscape rich in biodiversity. It should come as no surprise that farming is one of the most important sectors for the local economy.. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities, as well as discover the rich history that the town (declared a Cultural Heritage Site in 1987 under the category ‘Historic Site’) and surrounding area have to offer.
Before beginning the route, visit three sites from which you can see the town from a distance.
* The first is the provincial road A-9103, which offers unparalleled views of the entire town;
* the second is the viewpoint known as Mirador Collado de las Arenas, which offers spectacular views of the castle against the backdrop of the peak La Muela Grande and the surrounding mountains this viewpoint has minimal infrastructure); and
* the third is Cueva de los Letreros, a natural viewpoint, which, thanks to its height, allows you to see the vast plain until it disappears over the horizon.
The first stop on the route is the viewpoint Mirador Balsa Parra, just as you come into the town on the road from Vélez-Rubio. This site offers impressive views of two of the landscape’s most distinctive features: the plain and La Muela de Montalviche (part of Sierra del Gigante).
The second stop is the fountain known as Fuente de los Caños de la Novia, which offers views of the ravine Barranco de la Canastera. The third stop is Avenida Corredera, which allows you to fully appreciate how the town expanded following its capture by the Crown of Castile.
The fourth stop is Barranco de la Fuente, and the fifth is the square in front of Convento de San Luis Obispo, a great spot to take in views of the town and see how it descends into the plain.
The sixth stop is the old wheat storehouse, located on the far eastern side of the town.
The seventh stop is Fuente Caños de Caravaca; the eighth stop is Barrio de la Morería (the Moorish Quarter), characterised by its narrow streets; and the ninth and last stop is the Castle of the Marquesses of Los Vélez, which overlooks Vélez-Blanco and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the town and surrounding area.

## Get in

This walking route takes place in the municipality of Vélez-Blanco, 164 km (102 mi) from the city of Almería and 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Murcia. It can be reached by roads A-7 and A-349 .

## Drive
### 37.685029-2.094821 Balsa Parra Viewpoint: the town, plain and mountains

Route: Balsa Parra street (start of the route), entering the town via the A-317 from Vélez-Rubio.
Located at the entrance to the town, the 37.685029-2.094821 Balsa Parra viewpoint offers panoramic views of the town with its houses perched on its eastern slope, as well as the terraces used for farming, the plain and 37.73013-2.019362 Sierra del Gigante, which 37.714906-2.0336883 La Muela Grande is part of. The fact that the viewpoint is on the edge of a sharp slope gives visitors a unique experience and allows them to fully appreciate the vastness of the surrounding area. The plain in Vélez-Blanco represents a truly unique cultural landscape. It has been shaped by the erosion of rock as well as by the peoples that have called it home over the millennia. This can be seen in the hillside terraces built for farming during the al-Andalus period. These gave rise to an extensive infrastructure involving ditches, ponds, rivers, streams and fountains, which allowed farmers to irrigate and diversify their crops by efficiently harnessing the water available to them. This made the area particularly attractive for settlers. The terraces also serve to prevent erosion and keep the water within the landscape, thus ensuring it maintains its characteristic appearance. From the viewpoint, you can also see how the plain continues until it reaches the foothills of La Muela Grande, part of Sierra Gigante. This peak holds deep symbolism for locals and is an ever-present natural landmark and visual reference in the landscape and on this route. To the east, in the distance you can also see the south-east tip of the region of Murcia in the distance.
* The plain of Vélez-Rubio flanked by the town and La Muela

### 37.689787-2.0962632 Fuente de los Caños de la Novia: downhill along Barranco de la Canastera

Route: from Balsa Parra street, to Corredera avenue nº 5 (7 minutes).
Leaving behind the 37.685029-2.094824 Balsa Parra viewpoint, the route continues towards 37.691057-2.0957615 avenida Corredera. Along this section, you can fully appreciate how the town has been built on the side of a hill. On Avenida Corredera, you will find 37.689787-2.0962636 Caños de la Novia fountain. The crystal-clear water that flows out of this fountain is from the stream that runs through 37.689723-2.0951357 Barranco de la Canastera This ravine is one of the natural features that has most conditioned the layout of the town. The fountain gets its name from a legend (‘novios’ meaning ‘girlfriend and boyfriend’ in Spanish), which tells the story of how two young lovers met at it. The tale has been passed down through the generations and the fountain continues to be a popular place for young people to come to. From Fuente de los Caños de la Novia, you can reach Barranco de la Canastera. Here, you can see how houses have been built at the top of the steep slopes of the ravine, separated by a deep valley with water running towards the plain. This section of the route, which goes along the path next to the stream, is densely populated with trees and lush vegetation. You will notice a series of small ditches along it. This distribute its water so it can be used to irrigate crops. Like the many other fountains in the town, Fuente de los Caños de la Novia is testimony to the importance given to water in Vélez-Blanco. This has seen an entire system built to make use of the water from the streams that flow down the mountainsides. It includes a large number of tanks, small ditches, waterwheels and watermills. Such structures are found along the stream in Barranco de la Canastera until it reaches its lowest point, where the extensive plain and its fields begin.
* Los Caños de la Novia fountain.
* Detail of the small spouts (‘caños’).

### 37.691057-2.0957613 Avenida Corredera: the town’s renaissance legacy

Route: from Corredera avenue nº 5 to the nº 24 (1 minute).
Continue to walk along 37.691057-2.0957618 avenida Corredera until you get to 37.690239-2.0954489 fuente de los Caños de la Plaza, a fountain located on a crossroads where the road becomes straight. This continues to be the town’s main road and is the result of its expansion during the Renaissance. This can be seen in its straight roads, which are in sharp contrast to those seen in the nearby medieval 37.690914-2.09716610 La Morería (Moorish Quarter). These straight roads and the rectangular blocks they form are made possible by the flatter terrain in this part of the town. It is here that we find a number of outstanding examples of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Avenida Corredera is the beating heart of Vélez-Blanco, the main meeting place for locals and where many of its businesses are found. It is also home to a number of historical palatial homes, as well as the town’s 37.690814-2.09551611 old prison (now occupied by the town hall), the 37.6909-2.094712 municipal library and 37.691145-2.09597313 Church of Santiago Apóstol (Saint James the Apostle). This Mudéjar church was built during the 16th century and has a single nave as well as side chapels between its buttresses. It is one of the town’s main architectural landmarks, together with the 37.69102-2.09841514 castle and 37.690992-2.09748215 church of la Magdalena. Its bell tower stands out on the town’s skyline from a distance and can also be seen from multiple points throughout Vélez-Blanco. The 19th century saw the completion of this area of the town. It was during this period that a particular style of house appeared, belonging to medium and large landowners. These are bigger than those found in medieval Moorish Quarter. Their high facades (or part of them) are whitewashed and they often have windows and balconies protected by decorative iron bars. These kinds of buildings are so typical of the area that their style is known as clásico velezano. One particularly good example is the town hall.
* Avenida Corredera
* Facade of the town hall

### 37.692656-2.0962134 Barranco de la Fuente: the important role of water

Route: from Corredera avenue nº 24 to the Federico Motos street, nº 16 -18 (5 minutes).
At the end of Avenida Corredera, between 16 and 18 Calle Federico Motos, is a narrow alley leading onto a footpath that takes you down to 37.692656-2.09621316 Barranco de la Fuente. The path runs along the ravine. Like 36.925588-3.36823417 Barranco de la Canastera, it has played a significant role in shaping the layout of the town and provides it with a constant supply of water. The dense vegetation that grows in the ravine will provide you with some shade. This section of the route is a great chance to connect with nature, the only sound you will hear being the trickling of the stream. The location of Vélez-Blanco in Sierra María means the town has an abundant supply of water. This has resulted in an entire system being built over the centuries to harness this resource, and includes washhouses, troughs, ditches, tanks, waterwheels and watermills. It also comprises a large number of fountains, many of which our route takes us past. Particularly noteworthy ones are 37.689787-2.09626318 Caños de la Novia, 37.690239-2.09544819 Fuente Caños de la Plaza, 37.689618-2.09774120 Cinco Caños, 37.693087-2.09749321 Caños de Caravaca, 37.690203-2.09754122 Caños del Mesón and 37.694918-2.09579923 Fuente de la Alameda. The importance of water in the town can be clearly seen at number 31 of this street, where we find the 37.69275-2.0973724 Centro de Interpretación de la Cultura del Agua, El Alporchón (El Alporchón Water Culture Visitor Center). This building is where the town’s Community of Irrigators come every morning to auction water rights by way of a unique centuries-old auction system known as alporchón (a term dating back to Roman times). This involves a ‘water tribunal’, overseen by a ‘water officer’, resolving any issues relating to water rights.
* «El Alporchón» visitor center
* Los Caños de la Novia fountain

### 37.693274-2.0939065 The square outsidel convento de San Luis Obispo: views of the old town from the north

Route: descent to the Barranco de La Fuente on Federico Motos Street No. 16 to Cantarerías Street No. 11 (10 minutes).
After walking along 37.692656-2.09621325 Barranco de la Fuente, the route takes you uphill on Calle Cantarerías until you reach 37.693274-2.09390626 Convento de San Luis Obispo. This convent was founded with the support of Don Luis Fajardo Requensens between 1601 and 1615. The small tower and the facade of the temple, with its Plateresque entrance featuring the coat of arms of the 4th Marquess of Los Vélez, are what remain of the original Mudéjar Renaissance building. Its location conditioned the expansion of the town, giving rise to a new area known as «37.694494-2.095527 El Barrio». Its buildings have been adapted to the rugged, sloped terrain in their layout, continuing until they reach the edge of the ravine. Heading out of the built-up area to the north-east via Calle Cantarerías, you will find the farmland nearest to the town. Here, the terrain becomes much less rugged and extensive fields of grain are planted on gentle, rolling hills. This spot offers unparalleled sweeping views of the old town and allows you to fully appreciate how it has expanded over the centuries. From here, a few landmarks are worth noting. The first is the 37.69102-2.09841528 palace-fortress of the Fajardos with its high keep, this being the main feature on the town’s skyline. The second is 37.690992-2.09748229 Iglesia de la Magdalena. This is located at the foot of the castle in the medieval quarter known as 37.690914-2.09716630 La Morería, which is characterised by its whitewashed houses built on a slope. The third is 37.691145-2.09597331 Iglesia de Santiago Apostol, which marks the beginning of the town’s expansion during the Renaissance. This continues right until the very edge of Barranco de la Fuente.
* Antigua iglesia de la Magdalena

### 37.695698-2.0965466 The old wheat storehouse: the importance of farming for the local economy

Route: Cantarerías street to Marqués de Los Vélez avenue n.º 100 (7 minutes).
Walk along Calle Concepción (the continuation of Calle Cantarerías) until you reach Avenida Marqués de Los Vélez. On this street, you will find 37.694918-2.09579932 Fuente de la Alameda and 37.695698-2.09654633 Centro de Visitantes Almacén del Trigo (the Wheat Storehouse Visitor Centre), the sixth stop on our route. This visitor centre will allow you to find out more about the natural and cultural aspects of 37.7075-2.13234 Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park , as well as their importance for the local economy. This became the first ‘natural park’ in Andalusia in 1987 and 30% of Vélez-Blanco lies within it. The building itself is testimony to the importance of wheat for the town, which was used to produce flour at its mills from the 16th century onwards. This crop continues to be the main driving force behind the local economy and is now grown alongside barley. From the mid 1970s, almond trees also began to be grown through dryland farming and extensive olive groves appeared. However, olive milling has all but ceased in the town. Nowadays, the landscape reflects the diverse local economy. Firstly, we find terraces near the town on which fruit and vegetables are grown. These are watered using surface irrigation, also known as ‘flood irrigation’. Secondly, there are fields of grain, which use a two-field crop rotation system involving planting half the land and letting the other half rest for a year. Thirdly, there are extensive olive groves on the plain. Fourthly, we find flax, hemp and esparto grass. And finally, the natural resources offered by the area’s forests are also used. These include timber, mushrooms and aromatic plants for producing essences, although this sector is rather more precarious.

### 37.693087-2.0974937 Fuente de los Caños de Caravaca: views over Barranco de la Fuente

Route: Primavera street, Madrid street, Belén street, San Fernando street, Fuente de los Caños de Caravaca (7 minutes).
After leaving the 37.695698-2.09654635 old wheat storehouse, the next stop on the route is 37.693087-2.09749336 Fuente de los Caños de Caravaca, on Calle San Fernando. It was built by the 1st Marquess of Los Vélez in the 16th century to provide water for stables and livestock. Although it has undergone extensive changes over the years, its small basin, which collects water from the four spouts, as well as its trough, have remained intact. From here, you can see the rugged rocky elevation on which the highest part of the town sits, as well as the start of the ravine, which supplies water to the fountain before making its way under the road. Cross the street and follow the railings as the road begins to go uphill. This spot offers clear views of the rest of the ravine and allows you to see how it gets bigger and bigger as it makes its way downhill towards the plain, cutting through the town from west to east. One of the landmarks along the ravine is the 37.692562-2.09844237 El Portillo municipal washhouse, another example of how water was harnessed for use by locals. From this viewpoint, you will see a vast Baroque building perched on the side of the ravine. This is 37.692923-2.09676738 Casa de los Bañones, also known as Casa de los Arcos. Now a hotel, it has a vast facade featuring an open gallery made up of semicircular arches, each with a porthole above it. Towards the west, this spot also offers stunning views of the natural landscape around the ravine, as well as traditional houses and the slender silhouette of the tower belonging to 37.693274-2.09390639 convento de San Luis Obispo set against the backdrop of the mountains, dominated by La Muela.

### 37.690914-2.0971668 Barrio de la Morería: the first walled area of the town

Route: From Fuente Caños de Caravaca to Calasparra Street (2 minutes).
To begin the uphill walk through 37.690914-2.09716640 barrio de la Morería from 37.693087-2.09749341 Fuente de los Caños de Caravaca, turn onto Calle Calasparra. As we leave the part of the town that dates back to the Renaissance behind, you will notice how the layout of the streets immediately changes. Here, the natural expansion of the town during the al-Andalus period gave rise to slightly winding streets, the result of the slope on which they are built. These have remained practically unchanged over the centuries. A series of parallel roads make their way uphill until they reach the outermost defensive structures of the castle. These are connected by side streets with steep slopes or stairs to make up for the differences in height. The vast majority of the houses here have been preserved. They are single-family homes and most are terraced, whitewashed and have small doors and windows. Barrio de la Morería was built by the Moors and its location at the foot of the castle was chosen for defensive purposes. It was originally enclosed by a wall accessed via three gates. However, this no longer exists. Here, you will find 37.690992-2.09748242 Santa María Magdalena, a former mosque which was turned into a church following the capture of the town by the Crown of Castile in 1570. Parts of the walls of its nave as well as its Mudéjar tower remain standing, and it is one of the most distinctive landmarks in the town’s landscape. In this area of the town, you will also find 37.689618-2.09774143 Cinco Caños, a fountain built in the 16th century with the inscription:
* Old la Magdalena church

### 37.69102-2.0984159 Castle of the Marquesses of Los Vélez

Route: From Calasparra street to Castillo street (6 minutes).
From Barrio de la Morería, Calle Castillo will take you to the highest point in the town, where you will find the 37.69102-2.09841544 Castle of the Marquesses of Los Vélez . Also known as the Fortress of the Fajardos, it was built by Don Pedro Fajardo y Chacón in 1504, making use of the original Moorish alcazaba (fortress). The most visible remains from this period are a number of stone blocks at the entrance. Unfortunately, certain features from the Renaissance castle no longer remain in situ. These include the stone arches that once formed the galleries along the edges of the main patio, the frames of doors and windows, and heraldic motifs carved from stone, which were sold to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 1904. The castle has a gallery facing east, which offers spectacular views of the plain and 37.714906-2.03368845 La Muela Grande. Towards the east, near the town, you can also see the terraces used for farming. Beyond these are fields of grain that stretch for miles into the distance until they reach the foothills of the mountains. The castle also offers spectacular views of another defining feature of this landscape: the whitewashed houses that begin in 37.690914-2.09716646 Morería neighborhood and stretch downhill and beyond, to the edge of the town. The views here allow visitors to fully appreciate the town’s landscape as well as just how strategic this site was for controlling and defending the area as well as demonstrating the power of the ruling classes through architecture.
* The Fajardo coat of arms

## Stay safe

The places included on the route are safe and have low rates of crime. However, the usual safety precautions should be taken, such as locking your car and keeping your eye on your rucksack and other personal belongings. As in the rest of Spain, the Guardia Civil is responsible for policing the countryside, although Vélez-Blanco does have its own local police force.
On many parts of the route, there are no areas of shade. As such, you should use sun cream and a hat when the weather is hot. A number of sections are not fully accessible and may require outdoor wear and walking boots.
* Emergencies-112, ☏ 112.
* Guardia Civil, ☏ 062.

### Stay healthy

The hospitals nearest to the points along the route are:
* 37.694131-2.0947371 Consultorio Vélez Blanco, Calle Arco, 4, 04830, Vélez-Blanco, Almería, ☏ +34 950 41 95 00.
* 36.862222-2.4416672 Hospital Universitario de Torrecárdenas, Calle Hermandad de Donantes de Sangre, s/n., 04009, Almería, ☏ +34 950 01 61 14.
* 37.401389-1.9416673 Hospital de La Inmaculada, Avda. Dra. Ana Parra, S/N 04600 Huércal-Overa, ☏ +34 950 02 91 76.