The Guide to Almuñecar & La Herradura In English
As you meander the pedestrian streets of old town Almuñécar, you are bound to happen upon the Calle Real Fountain. This fountain was originally built in 1559, with remnants of the Roman aqueduct encased in glass beside the fountain. It 1994, the Calle Real Fountain was restored to its current state.
The monument to water is one of the many monuments you will find around town. This one in particular is very interesting to look at. These are really three separate statues; three bronze torsos (one male and two females) leaping over fountains of water. Because the artist created without heads or complete bodies, some think they are a work in progress, but we assure you they are complete.
When visiting Almuñécar, it is almost impossible not to notice the Blas Infante Arches (Puerta de Almuñécar). As you pass by on the N340, you will see the Blas Infante Arches stand out amidst all of the tall trees. This is a great meeting point in town, as it is easy to find.
This is a good 1/2 day activity from Almuñécar and you are in for a sweet treat, all about sugar in Spanish. Just a little to the east within Costa Tropical, you can experience the sugarcane past of Motril. You will experience an old Spanish sugar mill, take a tour of a rum distillery and taste some Spanish rum. Let’s talk sugar (Azucar).
Duration: ~3 hours
Route:
Your day will begin with a step back in time at Motril’s pre-industrial sugar museum, followed by a tour of the Ron Montero Rum Distillery with rum tasting.
Distance: 20km from Almuñécar
Departure: Recommended departure from Almuñécar 10:30 – 11:00 am
.Peñones del Santo is a natural monument with the addition of a man-made cross. You may climb to the top of Peñones del Santo for vast views of Almuñécar and the beautiful cost of Granada beaches. There is a large plaza at the top with a very large cross at the highest point. The surrounding metal railings have become a location for people to leave behind their locks of love.
Castillo de San Miguel, also known as San Miguel Castle (St. Michael’s Castle) is perched high upon the hill above the Old Town of Almuñécar. It is surrounded by the whitewashed houses in the barrio of San Miguel. This occupies the land once used by Phoenicians and Romans. It was also used in the Nasrid period for the dungeon. While not a huge castle, it is in very good condition. Inside there is a small museum with a scale model of what the area once was.
Meander the pedestrian streets of barrio San Miguel and you are in for a treat, when you find the Municipal Pottery Center (Centro de Alfarería Municipal). It’s a step back in time to the day of the Nasrid and Sexitanos, right in the heart of Almuñécar. Located just around from the castle is a revived piece of history. The Cerámica Alcaller is hidden in the old town walls above Majuelo Park and the perfect place to see authentic and traditional ceramics in Spain.
The Almuñécar City Council pays homage to the espetero and the espetos with a Monument next to the Paseo de San Cristóbal.
An Espetero is a traditional coastal job related to the roasting of fish in espeto (on skewers).
The Almuñécar City Council pays homage to the espetero and the espetos with a Monument along the Paseo de San Cristóbal. Located next to Restaurante Botos, across from Helios Hotel. Honored at the unveiling were locals of the trade; Manuel Mingorance Pérez “Piliki”, Miguel Rodríguez Moral “El Roquetero” and José Manuel Ortuño “El Arapo”, as well as Carmelo Martín Pérez.
The city council would like to recognize so many men from our town who are authentic artisans of flavor, espetar, control fire, and, ultimately, artisans of the ritual of making a good sardine skewer. This monument is in honor of the traditions of our parents and the children who will do so in the future. It’s things like this that will continue to enhance the Almuñécar culture even more. It is already an excellent photo hotspot.
The work, carried out by the Moreno Brothers of Granada and will serve to honor the memory of many people dedicated to this job. Which is a tradition of the chiringuitos. It was made with a mixed technique: forged and welded sheet metal and cast bronze (head, foot, hands, and sardines).
This is the 9th piece of work by Miguel Moreno commissioned in Almuñécar and La Herradura. The other monuments have been displayed in various parts of the municipality since 1984. You will recognize the monument to Los Fenicios (Paseo del Altillo). Abderramán Monument (next to the Peñones del Santo). Seahorse (Aquarium Square). Monument to the Men of the Countryside (Carrera de la Concepción). Water Monument (Water Square). Monument to the flamenco singer, Rafael Muñoz “El Niño del Cerval” (Alta del Mar street). Monument to the Men of the Sea and the Heart, on La Herradura beach.
If boating is your thing, then you must visit Marina del Este La Herradura. The Marina is nestled in a protected cove, between Almuñécar and La Herradura, with a perfectly protected situation protected by natural rock and a manmade wall. La Herradura is the closest pueblo to the Marina, just over the natural headland called Punta de la Mona. This area is full of summer fun with many activities year-round as well, including many beaches, coves, hiking trails, and more. It is the perfect getaway for everyone.
Picture a sentinel in an old stone watchtower, perched high up on the cliffs of Punta de la Mona. He can see for miles out to sea and along the coastline, with mountainous lands jetting right into the sea. He is there protecting the castles and the nearby villages. There’s nothing but the rocky cliffs with the sea crashing below. He has means to communicate with the neighboring watchtowers along the coast, via light signals. This was the life of a watchman back in the 1700’s.
