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Almeria
car hire
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Almeria Cabo de Gata
Taking the N.340 main road in the direction of Murcia,
the traveller should continue until reaching the fork which leads to
Granada. The village of Gergal lies 17km from the crossroads, next to
a watercourse, in the foothills of the Sierra de los Filabres. The castle
of the Count of La Puebla stands on a nearby hill and was built of rubblework
during the 16th century , the same time the parish church was constructed.
The traveller should continue along the same road (N.324), between the
Sierra de los Filabres and the Sierra Nevada, passing over a rough landscape
as Doña Maria Ocaña (20km away) is approached. To the
right hand side, the Sierra de los Filabres runs into the Sierra de
Baza, affording some very picturesque scenery.
Abla, 8km further on, is situated on a hill that forms part of the northern
slopes of the Sierra Nevada. A visit should be paid to its outstanding
Mudejar Church with it clearly Baroque influence. The town's people
have become known for the making of "harapas", as well as
for maintaining the traditional "seguirillas" - one of the
oldest dances in the province.
Continuing along the same road but turning off towards the left, we
reach Abrucena (4km away) where we find the ruins of a Moorish castle
and narrow, steeply-sloping streets. La Roza, a recreation area set
amidst pine groves, is about 7km from here and offers a full range of
services (including a restaurant at certain times of the year).
A further 7km away we find Fiñana which has one of the finest
Mudejar churches with a nave and tow aisles. It was built in the latter
half of the 16th century and is dedicated to Santa Maria de la Encarnacion.
Its construction is of high quality and is richly decorated. Fiñana
has a thriving craft industry using esparto grass as its basic product
from which excellent basket work is obtained.
After visiting Fiñana, the traveller should go back along the
same road until reaching the crossroads which leads to Nacimiento, some
27km away. It is in this village, with its steep streets and 12th century
church, that the typical "pan de mosto" (must bread) is made.
Returning to the N.324, a detour along a local road takes us alongside
the river Nacimiento. The ten kilometre downhill journey takes us through
the small villages of Alboloduy, Santa Cruz, Alsodux, and Alhabia specialises
in basket-making and pottery. The confluence of the rivers Nacimiento
and Andarax lies very close to Alhabia and is an extremely beautiful
spot from a scenic point of view. After a further 6km we reach the turn-off
to Santa Fe de Mondujar, a village located on a hill set among the mountains.
It is from this point onwards that the typical features of the Lower
Andarax area begin to appear. Here we find the Interesting prehistoric
village of Los Millares, a significant example of the transition from
the Neolithic Period to the bronze Age in the south-east of Spain.
The river Andarax continues flowing down towards the sea, passing by
several villages. Gador produces oranges and stands between three hills.
It has one of the finest Almerian churches, built in the 18th century.
Benahadux has its Chuche district, located among palm trees and which
has the remains of an Iberian settlement. Crossing over the river we
reach Pechina, standing over the ancient and important Arab town Bayanna.
Just a short distance away are located the thermal baths and salt pans
of the Sierra Alhamilla. Tradition has it that the carbonic waters can
make sterile women fertile. Long "chorizo" sausage can be
enjoyed at Viator, 3km away, and a visit can also be paid to Huercal,
a village on the other side of the bridge over the Andarax, which is
just 6km from Almeria.
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