What to see in Nijar a typical village in the province of Almeria

Visiting Nijar in the province of Almeria

In this article you’ll find all the information you need to know what to see in Nijar

• A few words about Nijar
• Where is Nijar on the map?
• What to see and do in Nijar
• What to do in Nijar
• Booking accommodation
• Dates of the Nijar fair
• What to do around Nijar
• Useful links
• Continuing your trip to Andalucia

A few words about Nijar

Nijar is a beautiful white village in the province of Almería, around 20 km from the sea. In fact, it’s part of the network of Pueblos más bonitos de España.

The village is renowned for its traditional crafts, particularly pottery. There is even a potters’ quarter in Nijar.

This article is intended as a guide to the village of Nijar and its 3,000 inhabitants. Indeed, very little will be said about the municipality of Nijar, whose size is a curiosity in itself.

The municipality of Nijar covers an area of 600 km2! This area includes :

• 70% of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park
• 30,000 inhabitants
• 25 towns including Las Negras, Agua Amarga, San José and Isleta del Moro,
• Cabo de Gata’s most beautiful unspoilt beaches (Playa de Monsul, Playa de los Genoveses, Cala de Enmedio)

Where is Nijar on the map?

What to see and do in Nijar

1 – The El Portillo and Atalaya districts

2 – The watchtower – Torre de Atalaya

3 – Museo memoria del Agua

4 – Plaza La Glorieta

5 – Church of Santa María de La Anunciación

6 – Níjar pottery district

7 – Mariposario – Butterfly farm

8 – Nijar Cactus

9 – Monsul Beach

10 – Los Genoveses Beach

11 – Enmedio Cove

12 – Cortijo del Fraile

1 – The El Portillo and Atalaya districts

Strolling through the historic quarters of Nijar is pure enchantment. You’ll wander through narrow streets of whitewashed houses decorated with flowers.

The narrow streets are a reminder of the period of Muslim domination.

The old town of Nijar is the most picturesque part, with its Portillo and Atalaya districts.

El Portillo district – a must-see in Nijar

Strolling through the streets of the El Portillo district is like immersing yourself in an atmosphere of charm and tranquillity.

This district offers an authentic experience of Andalucia village life. Many of the white houses are also yellow or blue, as in the Plaza del Granero.

This district is named after the arch (el portillo), which is a vestige of the fortified enclosure that provided access to the Medina, now known as the Atalaya district.

The Atalaya district – another must-see area of Nijar

On crossing El Portillo, visitors enter the Atalaya district, an area that reflects the Moorish influence with its narrow, winding streets.

Continuing through these beautiful streets, you will come to the watchtower.

You can also see a tiny troglodyte dwelling.

2 – The watchtower – Torre de Atalaya – a must-see in Nijar

This is one of the most iconic places to see in Nijar. It is one of the town’s historical and cultural landmarks. This watchtower, dating from the 14th and 16th centuries, is the only visible remnant of the ancient fortress that defended the town during the period of Muslim domination.

To reach the Torre de Atalaya and its viewpoint, cross the eponymous district and climb a few steps to reach the promontory.

Viewpoint of the Torre de Atalaya

Below the tower is the viewpoint offering a magnificent panoramic view of Níjar, the surrounding countryside and Cabo de Gata. On a clear day, you can also see the sea, some 20km away.

3 – Museo memoria del Agua

This small Memoria del Agua museum, in the centre of the El Portillo district, is housed in the former Mercado de abastos (covered market) building.

This free museum provides information on the importance of water resources in the region. It also explains how water resources have been managed for centuries, through traditional irrigation systems in this arid land.

Finally, it also shows how human ingenuity has overcome the challenges of climate and land.

The Memoria del Agua museum is located in a small square with century-old trees. Just inside the entrance to the museum is the Fuente de los 3 caños (Fountain of the 3 Spouts).

Address: Plaza Mercado, 1

4 – Plaza La Glorieta 

Around this square you’ll find traditional shops such as Casa de la Abuela.

There are also plenty of places to try some of the region’s typical tapas.

This square is also home to the Santa María de la Anunciación church.

This square is also home to the Santa María de la Anunciación church.

5 – Church of Santa María de La Anunciación

This Mudejar-style church dates from the 16th century. It was built on the foundations of a medieval fortress tower, which gives it its unusual appearance.

The building is notable for its impressive Mudéjar wooden ceiling.

Behind the church is a small, free museum dedicated to crafts, La casa de los Artesanos, which features a wide-ranging exhibition.

6 – The Níjar pottery district

Nijar’s alfarería (pottery) district is a must-see if you want to appreciate the local culture.

Níjar’s Barrio Alfarero is a living testimony to the village’s rich craft heritage.

Here you can visit various workshops and shops and discover a wide variety of hand-painted ceramics. The best-known shop is undoubtedly that of the potters Ángel y Loli :

There are also a number of shops selling another local craft: jarapas.

There are also weavers’ shops selling objects made from Alfa. The fibres of this plant are used to make a wide range of objects, including baskets and lamps.

These craft shops are a great place to pick up a nice souvenir from Nijar.

Finally, you can also visit the old wash-house in this district, which has been redecorated by potters and ceramists.

7 – Mariposario – The butterfly farm

This butterfly farm is an original idea for a day out, either on your own or with the whole family. The guided tour of the garden, home to 300 exotic butterflies, lasts around 20 minutes. The guided tour is available in Spanish, English and French.

Address: Diseminado el Hualix, Níjar

Mariposario website: Mariposario de Níjar.

Note: the Mariposario is closed in winter.

8 – Cactus Nijar

Here’s a great place to visit in Nijar, a reminder that the Tabernas Desert is just a few kilometres away.

This cactus shop hides a little treasure: a botanical garden with a multitude of cactus varieties. The garden is open to the public during opening hours (every day from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 8pm).

A stroll through this cactus-filled garden is a lovely little escape.

Note: an Austrian-German couple (Ingrid and Toni) are behind this project, which was launched in 2016.

Cactus Nijar is located at the entrance to the village, on the Camino del Campo. Here’s a map to help you find it.

9 – Monsul Beach

This beach is a little gem. It can be reached by car or on foot along a dirt track. The car park is around 300 metres from the beach. Here’s the exact location.

10 – Los Genoveses Beach

This beach is one of the jewels of the Nijar coast, in the Cabo de Gata Park. The beach is characterised by its fine golden sand and desert landscape.

Just like Monsul beach next door, it’s a veritable natural paradise.

11 – The Enmedio cove

This cove is a real beauty, and deserves a little effort. You have to follow a path from Agua Amarga for 30 minutes.

Once there, you’ll find yourself in a marvellous environment of fine sand and white rock. The contrast with the turquoise-blue sea is marvellous.

12 – Cortijo del Fraile

Cortijo del Fraile is famous for having been the setting for several film scenes. However, it is best known as the inspiration for Federico García Lorca’s Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding), which was set in Cortijo del Fraile.

Here’s the exact location.

What to do in and around Nijar

Below you’ll find the excursions and activities on offer in Nijar – Almeria.

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

Book accommodation

Below you will find all the hotels and accommodation available in and around Nijar after selecting your dates:

Feria de Nijar dates

The Nijar Fair in September

What to see around Nijar?

There are some fabulous sites to discover in the Nijar area. Here are 3 ideas for visits fairly close to Nijar.

Mojacar

A wonderful white village, Mojacar is one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. It lies just above Cabo de Gata.

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

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 a link to visit Macael.

Tabernas Desert

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

To find out more, here’s a link to find out what to see in the Tabernas Desert.

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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