What to see in Almocita in the Alpujarra almeriense
Visit the wonderful village of Almocita
In this article you’ll find all the information you need to visit Almocita and find out everything there is to see:
- A few words about Almocita
- Where is Almocita on the map?
- What to see in Almocita
- What to do in the province of Almeria
- Where to eat in Almocita
- Book accommodation in the area
- The dates of the Almocita fair
- What to do around Almocita
- Some useful links
- Continuing your trip to Andalucia
A few words about Almocita
Almocita is an enchanting village. Rarely have I seen so much poetry on the walls of a village, whether written or painted.
This is a little marvel in Andalucia, off the beaten track.
This little village is in the province of Almería, and more specifically in the Alpujarra d’Almería. It lies within the Sierra Nevada National Park, between Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Gádor.
Almocita preserves the Moorish architecture typical of the region, and you’ll be transported to a place where time seems to have stood still.
A little history
Almocita’s Moorish origins are clearly evident in its street layout and architecture. It is said to be one of the best-preserved Moorish heritage sites in the province.
The origin of the village’s name has Arabic roots al-moaycata or Almavata from the Arabic al-mawgata.
At that time, in the Middle Ages, the silk industry was of great importance in Almócita, which had large silkworm farms – the practice of sericulture -.
Finally, in 1570, a great historic event took place in Almocita.
In 1570, Juan de Austria arrived in Almócita to negotiate with the Moorish rebels of Alpujarra. The agreement took place under an oak tree in the cortijo de Hadid, and it was from this event that the place took the name of ‘Cortijo de las Paces’. This agreement was signed by the warlord Abén Aboo (Morisco name: Diego López) and Hernando el Habaquí – the Morisco negotiator.
Where is Almocita on the map?
What can you see in Almocita?
1 – The poetry and urban art of the village
2 – Viewpoint of La Balsa de las Espeñuelas
3 – Los Tres Caños fountain
4 – Old Nasrid cistern
5 – The Jewish quarter of Almócita
6 – Plaza de la Libertad
7 – Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia parish church
8 – The Placetilla de los Polos
9 – The Cortijo de las Paces local trail
As already mentioned, Almocita is a truly enchanting place to visit. The village is very easy to visit, and street markings make it easy to find your way around all the places of interest in Almócita:
1 – The poetry and urban art of the village
To visit Almocita, a small village, all you have to do is let yourself be carried along its streets. In each of them you will find something beautiful to see and read.
There’s also a very nice and unusual place in the village, where you can turn the ‘Ruleta del amor’. See what the needle stops on for everyone 🙂 .
Note: there’s something rather curious about the village: it’s the number of men and women called Francisco and Francisca. There are around thirty of them out of the village’s 200 inhabitants. So many, in fact, that when you’re looking for Paco, you add an ‘identifier’: Paco el del taller, Paco el del bar, Paco el alcalde, ….
2 – Balsa de las Espeñuelas viewpoint
This viewpoint offers an absolutely magnificent panorama. Interestingly, it is located at the top of the village, where you can park easily and then visit the village.
Right next to it you’ll see the world’s largest lantern – candil. This lantern was an important part of life in the old days, when there was no electric lighting. It was an essential source of light at night.
3 – Fountain of Los Tres Caños
This is one of the oldest fountains in the Alpujarra of Almería. Lovers of old stones will find it very charming.
4 – Old Nasrid cistern
The village’s aljibe – water reservoir – dates from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. This aljibe is an old water tank from the Nasrid period. It served as a reservoir for the water from the fountain.
Its functions were to guarantee the population’s water supply and to ensure ritual purification before prayers.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a wash-house was installed. Women used it to wash their clothes. It has recently been renovated.
5 – The Jewish quarter of Almócita
Despite the size of the village, traces of Almocita’s old Jewish quarter and its Sephardic heritage remain.
It is made up of a number of narrow, cobbled streets. Here you will find the Almouseum sign, the open-air museum. These are portraits of villagers who ‘tell the story’ of village life.
6 – La Plaza de la Libertad
This square is located just behind the church.
It is beautifully decorated with a fountain. It is the village’s meeting place.
7 – The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia
This church was partially rebuilt in the 17th century, after being burnt down during the Alpujarras revolt in 1568.
The nave of the church no longer has a roof, following an earthquake in the 19th century, and is currently used as a garden.
8 – La Placetilla de los Polos
This small square is a must-see in Almocita.
There is a beautiful fountain at its centre, and a house decorated with many plants.
9 -Hike the Cortijo de las Paces local trail
The village is surrounded by natural areas and offers some great walks. On the walk below, you can enjoy nature, tranquillity and magnificent views.
For details of the walk: sendero Cortijo de las Paces.
Things to do in the province of Almeria
Book accommodation in the area
Almocita is a small village with just 200 inhabitants and no hotel facilities. The best way to book accommodation in the area is to go to Laujar de Andarax, the capital of the Alpujarra almeriense 🙂 . It’s a small region and so Laujar is ideal for radiating out into the surrounding area.
Below, you will find all the availabilities after selecting your dates:
Almocita Fair dates
Here’s the most interesting festival: Candlelight Night, in May
During the Night of the Candles Almócita is transformed into a magical place, where the light of thousands of candles casts shadows and stories in every corner of the village. It’s a magical evening.
What to do around Almocita?
In the area around Almocita, in the province of Almeria, there are some fabulous sites to discover. Here are 3 ideas for places to visit around Almocita.
Canjáyar
Canjayar is one of the most beautiful and authentic villages in the Alpujarra almeriense.
Here’s the link if you’d like to visit Canjayar.
Tabernas Desert
Here’s a link to the Tabernas Desert, 30 km from Almeria.
Mojacar
This is a wonderful white village, one of the best in Spain. It lies just above Cabo de Gata.
To find out more, here’s a link to what to see in Mojacar.
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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