What to see and do in Lucainena de las Torres

The essential things to see and do in Lucainena de las Torres

In this article you’ll find all the information you need to visit and see the best of Lucainena de las Torres :

• A few words about Lucainena de las Torres
• Where is Lucainena?
• What to see and do in Lucainena de las Torres
• What to do in the province of Almeria
• Booking accommodation
• The main festivities in Lucainena de las Torres
• What to see around Lucainena
• Useful links
• Continuing your trip to Andalucia

A few words about Lucainena de las Torres

The beautiful little village of Lucainena de las Torres lies in the province of Almeria, to the north of the Sierra Alhamilla.

The interesting thing about this typical village is that it lies off the beaten tourist track. Despite its proximity to Níjar and the Tabernas desert, it is little frequented.

A few years ago, it also became a member of the Pueblos más bonitos de España network.

So here’s a white village that still retains its medieval layout, with an important mining past and one of the best-known greenways – Vía Verde – in southern Spain.

A little history

Lucainena de las Torres is a curious name, given that there are no towers in the village. The name is directly linked to its history during Muslim rule.

In the Middle Ages, the village of Locaynena was surrounded by a wall and seven towers.

In 1488, when the village was conquered by Catholic troops, it was initially renamed Lucainena de las siete Torres. Then, in 1505, a church was built on the site of the old mosque.

Where is Lucainena de las Torres?

What to see and do in Lucainena de las Torres

1 – Church of Nuestra Señora de Montesión

2 – Plaza del Poyo de la Cruz

3 – The calcination kilns

4 – Street signs

5 – Garruchete viewpoint

6 – Plaza del ayuntamiento

7 – Via Verde

8 – Molinillo de Viento watchtower

9 – Senda Minera de Lucainena walk

1 – Church of Nuestra Señora de Montesión

In the centre of the town is the church of Nuestra Señora de Montesión. It dates back to the 18th century and houses the village’s patron saint. This church was built over the original church erected in 1505, which stood on top of the former mosque.

2 – Plaza del Poyo de la Cruz

Right next to the church is the Plaza del Poyo de la Cruz. From here, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area and the village as a whole. There is also the old wash-house in this square.

3 – The calcination kilns, a must-see in Lucainena de las Torres

The calcination kilns in Lucainena de las Torres are a vestige of mining from the early 20th century.

Iron ore extracted from nearby mines was calcined here.

The site is 1km from the village centre, and can be reached on foot or by car. Visits are free, and there are information panels on site. Among other things, you’ll learn that these furnaces were 20 metres high and had an ore-smelting capacity of 500 tonnes a day!

There are 8 old furnaces on display. One of them has been rehabilitated for entry.

Once the iron ore had been processed in these furnaces, it was transported by rail to the port of Aguamargua (municipality of Carboneras).

Note: on site, it is possible to continue along a path, which passes through a tunnel, leading to the remains of the former miners’ dwellings and the mines themselves.

4 – street signs

A visit to Lucainena de las Torres reveals a haven of peace and harmony.

And, in my personal opinion, you’ll also see some of the most beautiful street signs in a white village.

They are all different, but eloquent, and reflect the geography and architecture of the area.

There’s a lovely place for lovers …. :

5 – Garruchete viewpoint

The Garruchete viewpoint offers without doubt the best view of Lucainena and the surrounding area.

6 – Plaza del ayuntamiento

This is a delightful little village square. Here you will find an inn, the town hall and an old fountain where you can enjoy a drink.

The market is held here on Saturdays.

7 – Via Verde

This Via Verde, opened in 2009, offers a walk along the old railway line, which has been completely dismantled. It’s an easy walk for everyone, with the option of stopping and turning back whenever you like.

It currently runs for 16 km, as far as Venta del Pobre, but it should soon be possible to reach Agua Amargua. The total distance will therefore be 36 kilometres.

However, the 16km that can already be travelled will allow you to see a number of relics of the region’s mining past, as well as some very fine panoramic views.

This is the starting point for the Vía Verde, just outside the village.

8 – Molinillo de Viento watchtower

The Molinillo de Viento watchtower is the only remaining tower from the medieval period, under Muslim rule.

It originally formed part of the village’s defensive system. This tower was later converted into a flour mill. It was this new function that gave it its current name of Molinillo de viento.

9 – Senda Minera de Lucainena walk

The Senda Minera de Lucainena route allows you to visit the village and the most interesting points in the surrounding area. It’s a short walk that partly follows the Vía Verde, skirting the village and passing by the viewpoints and old wash-houses, as well as the calcination kilns.

The route of this walk, which also starts at the Vía Verde, can be found here.

What to do in the province of Almeria

Below you’ll find the excursions and activities on offer in this magnificent province.

You can also book them online today (with free cancellation):

An idea for an activity out of the ordinary :

Among the activities to do around Lucainena, there’s a pretty great one.

You can book a visit to the Sorbas caves.

This is a site with a large number of galleries carved out of the gypsum by water over thousands of years. Some of the walls are covered in crystalline formations during this caving tour. You’ll pass through several of these caves and narrow passages. A wonderful experience! Dress in an outfit that can get dirty 🙂.

Book accommodation in Lucainena de las Torres

There’s a lovely hotel-restaurant in the village:

If you want to see more photos and book, you can access it through this link: Hotel Museo Montesion.

Below, you will find all the availabilities after selecting your dates:

Main festivities in Lucainena de las Torres

Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de Monte Sion in September

What to see around Lucainena de las Torres

There are some fabulous sites to discover in the area around Lucainena. Here are 3 ideas for visits fairly close to Lucainena de las Torres.

Macael

Macael is a small town that doesn’t get talked about enough. The town, nicknamed the white gold capital, has a lot to offer visitors. The surrounding area is sure to delight you!

Here’s the link if you’d like to visit Macael.

Tabernas Desert

The Tabernas Desert is a wonder to behold…not just for its famous western film locations 🙂 .

Here’s a link to visit the Tabernas Desert.

Guadix

This small town is a little further away, a 1hr 20min drive. However, it complements the 2 other extraordinary sites mentioned above. With its 2,000 cave-towns, Guadix is home to one of the world’s largest troglodyte dwellings.

To find out more, here’s a link to what you need to see in Guadix.

Some ideas and useful links

The links below can be very useful depending on where you are staying and what you need to do to have a wonderful time in Andalucia.

• An interactive map of Andalucia to find lots of ideas for visits around you, off the beaten track.

• link to book a rental car at Malaga airport.

• link to book a rental car anywhere else in Andalucia with the rentalcars platform.

• If you’re on the Costa del Sol and looking for ideas for excursions in Andalucia, you can use the following link to book a tour departing from Málaga, Torremolinos, Estepona or Benalmadena.

Discover more of Andalusia’s beautiful sites in the Andalucia blog pages.

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