The Almanzora Valley

 

The Almanzora Valley exists within Almeria Province of Spain, total area 8,769 km², population 615,700, population density 70.21/km². It has 8 regions, 103 municipal areas and 521 populated places.

Almeria is made up of vast expanses of arid land, with the main population densities occuring in the coastal tourist regions from Villaricos down to Mojacar, and in the industrial region of Almeria/El Ejido. The coastline is 249 km long and much of this remains undeveloped, especially the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, though seriously threatened by corrupt planning and development practises. Almeria is developing more new golf courses than any area in Andalucia.

Almeria´s landscape is extremely diverse. There are peaks reaching 1645 metres, snow capped for months of the year, and only km away is the driest place in Europe, the Tabernas desert. Europes largest horticultural greenhouses can be clearly seen on satellite pictures, being over 40 km by 15 km in size. Juxtaposed to this is the extraordinary beauty of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. The main feature of Almeria is its lack of rainfall and its unusually high amount of annual sunshine.

There is a train station, a ferry port with connections to Africa and an international airport (code LEI, 12 km from the city).

The area of the Almanzora Valley

Zurgena lies in the lower basin of the Rio Almanzora; the river divides the village with the old village standing on a hill. The Mudejar style church stands majestically tall above the village houses. Nearby are the Cueva del Llano de las Eras. Further up the valley in spurs of the Sierra de los Filabres Mountains lies Arboleas in a much drier landscape contrasting with the fertile land at the riverside. This valley has an abundance of citrus and fruit trees populating the area the surrounding area that make Currently the pueblo is undergoing a change where the production of olive oil is being developed

The Sierra de las Estancias and the Sierra de los Filabres mountain ranges amidst stunning countryside of olive groves, orchards of citrus trees and dramatic hills and valleys, flank the small town of Albox. Several rivers and streams flow close to the town, including the Rios Almanzora and Albanchez that contribute to the area's rich agricultural heritage.

Albox Albox is a small bustling Spanish market town. What it lacks in looks it makes up for in atmosphere. It is an unpretentious working town which becomes a frenzy of activity on market days when people pour in from all the outlying pueblos, ramblas and barrancas. (Description provided by Judi Bk of the Arboleas Forum http://www.arboleas.co.uk).

Also in the marble zone lies Olula Del Rio, as with Cantoria this valuable asset is its main resource. There are several archaeological remains, the Verde Olula and caves, Cueva de Humosa. As a sign of its main resource, the church is completely decorated in marble.

Purchena is the municipality of the Province; it lies at the foot of the Sierra de los Filabres surrounded by woods. There is a statue of an arquero (archer) in marble at the entrance of the village. Purchena is famous for its Juegos Moriscos, these games, with the same values as the Olympics have been recognised by the International Olympic Committee. Purchena has a wealth of history and its tranquil atmosphere belies its past. The legacy of it past is left with the ruins of the Torre del Agua (water tower), the Alcazaba (castle) and the 16th Century Iglesia Parroquial de San Gines (Parish church).

Tijola is known as the Pearl of Almanzora or Little Granada. It stands on a beautiful fertile plain in a valley formed by the Sierra de las Estancias and the Sierra de los Filabres. It has a Mudejar style church, the Iglesia Parroquial de Santa María with a separate chancel. Also several archaeological remains.

Seron lies in a magnificent landscape of vines and citrus trees, the whitewashed houses nestle on the hillside with a 13th Century castle standing sentry over the houses. The parish church, Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Senora de la Anunciacion is 15th Century. Seron is rich with heritage and has been settled since prehistoric times.

The final village in the province of Almanzora is Alcontar whose economy is based on agriculture and whose boundary lies with the province of Granada. The source of the Rio Almanzora lies within its boundaries and walking is popular in this area

The above maps appear by kind permission of Maps of Spain by Data Spain © 2006. Many other Road, relief and satelite images can be found on their web site at www.data-spain.com