Historical & Cultural Almuñecar – La Herradura


At the end of September we are always in for a treat with the Fiestas de San Miguel, in the barrio del Castillo Almuñécar!  Up high on the hill in old town, near the castle, the streets come alive for 3 days and nights.

Almuñécar Castillo de San Miguel

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 whitewashed houses in the barrio of San Miguel.  This occupies the land once used by the 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.


The Archaeological Museum Cueva de Siete Palacios, also known as the Cave of 7 Palaces, is surprisingly not located within a cave. Instead it represents the largest section of the former Roman Palace. Ticket included with Castillo de San Miguel entry. Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

Museum Cueva de Siete Palacios

The Archaeological Museum Cueva de Siete Palacios, also known as the Cave of 7 Palaces.  It represents the largest section of the former Roman Palace.  The museum is located in what was once the basement of this Roman Palace.  Inside, there are remains of the historic past of Almuñécar.  Including remains found at the necropolis of Puente de Noy, Laurita, and the fish salting factory of El Majuelo.


Roman Aqueduct and Roman Baths

Roman Aqueduct and Roman Baths

The Roman Aqueduct runs from Almuñécar to the north of Torrecuevas, between the Rio Verde and Rio Seco.  It is believed to have been built in the first century AD, coinciding with the construction of the main Roman monuments in the city.


Artisan market Almunecar Majuelo Park Fish Salting Factory

El Majuelo Park and Fish Salting Factory

El Majuelo Park and botanical gardens are full of amazing plants, sculptures, and paths to meander.   You will also find authentic artisan workshops where you may see the artists work and purchase goods.  In addition, the view of the historic Phoenician and Roman Fish-Salting Factory and Castle are the best.  The Pièce de résistance is the wide variety of botanical plants within this park.  Often events are held in the botanical garden.


Almunecar Church of Incarnation - La Iglesia de la Encarnación

La Iglesia de la Encarnación (Catholic Church)

The 16th century Church of the Incarnation is perched on the hill in the old town of Almuñécar.  It is located just behind the Ayuntamineto (Town Hall).


Phoenician Necropolis of Puente de Noy (Phoenician tombs) Almunecar

Phoenician Ruins The Necropolis of Puente de Noy

Step back in time, thousands of years ago along Costa Tropical.   The waves from the beautiful blue sea were lapping on the shore, people were living here and making ceramics and crafts.  They were protected and surrounded by the lush Granada mountains and hills and life was good.  When people passed away, their burial grounds were placed on the hills, the Phoenician Necropolis.  People were buried in their tombs with goods and belongings, all right here on the Granada coast!


Almunecar-Spain-Roman-Bridge-of-Cotobro

Roman Bridge

From what we have read, this little Roman bridge is from around 400 AD.  Almuñécar is along the coastal Roman trading route between Cartagena, Málaga, and Cádiz and this bridge is still in amazing condition. Located in the canyons of Cotobro.


Municipal Pottery Center Centro de Alfarería Municipal Ceramics. Inside this Nasrid wall, there are a series of holes designed to place ceramic pottery for drying.  Below those are large openings, Roman ovens, to fire the pottery.  Over the years, there have been bits of reform, possibly from the Christian era.   

Municipal Pottery Center

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.


flamenco dancing almunecar

Spanish Flamenco

How about some flamenco in Almuñécar & La Herradura for that authentic Spanish experience?  If you are just visiting the area or perhaps you live here and have a guest coming to stay, either way, you should make some time for drinks, tapas, and a flamenco show.  We will share some of our favorite flamenco shows in town, which should have that local flair you are looking for.


Almunecar Tourist Office

Palacete de La Najarra

The main tourist office is in a palace, just one block in from San Cristobal Beach, off of Calle Bikini.  It is just one block from Majuelo Botanical Park and a couple of blocks from San Miguel Castle.  This tourist office was once a palace and has some beautiful gardens to enjoy.  There is also a special little house on the property, which the kids will enjoy.


Paseo del Altillo - Monument to Phoenicians Almuñécar

Monument to Phoenicians

The monument to Phoenicians is located along the upper level of the Paseo del Altillo.  This is a tribute to the Phoenician culture and its contribution to the history of Almuñécar.  It was built after the Phoenician Necropolis was unearthed nearby and their ancient mysteries discovered.


La Herradura Castle has quite the history and is now an interactive museum honoring the 1562 shipwreck in the La Herradura bay.  Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

La Herradura Castle

La Herradura Castle has quite the history and is now an interactive museum honoring the 1562 shipwreck in the La Herradura bay.  We call it a castle, but it really was used for other purposes.


Monument to Shipwrecked Sailors La Herradura Spain

Monument to Shipwrecked Sailors

As you enter the town of La Herradura, you will notice a large bronze sculpture along the beach.  This is the Monument to Shipwrecked Sailors.   The deep bay of La Herradura hides the remains of 25 ships of the Spanish Navy, and more than five thousand sailors.  The La Herradura naval disaster occurred on October 19, 1562, due to a very large storm.


Almunecar Old Town Calle Real Fountain

Calle Real Fountain – Almuñécar

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.


Blas Infante Arches Almunecar - Friday Market

Blas Infante Arches – Puerta de Almuñécar

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.


Monument to Water, Main Bus Station

Monument to Water

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.


Peñones del Santo is a natural monument with the addition of illuminated cross.  Climb to the top for vast views of town and Almuñécar Granada beaches. Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

Peñones del Santo – Natural Monument of Almuñécar

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.


Monument to the espetero & espetos. Paseo San Cristobal Almunecar Spain. The Almuñécar City Council pays homage to the espetero and the espetos with a Monument along the Paseo de San Cristóbal.  Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

Monument to Espetero and Espetos

The Almuñécar City Council pays homage to the espetero and the espetos with a Monument next to the Paseo de San Cristóbal.


Spectacular views of Almunecar from the Faro de La Herradura - La Herradura lighthouse on Punta de la Mona.

Faro de La Herradura (The La Herradura Lighthouse)

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.


N340 Almunecar Casillas de Peones Camineros Road worker house

Casillas de Peones Camineros Almuñécar

You can spend years living in an area, and pass by interesting historical sites, and not even know it.  This post will cover the Casillas de Peones Camineros (Road Workers’ House) in Almuñécar, but you can find them all over Spain.  It’s easy to overlook not only the building, but the role it played in keeping Almuñécar connected to the rest of Spain.

Hours

The Almuñécar – La Herradura City Council adapts the visiting hours to the monuments and other centers of tourist interest for this summer.
These schedules will be in force during the months of July and August 2021.
These new schedules will affect the main tourist visit points of the municipality, from the Castle of San Miguel de Almuñécar, through museums and theme parks, such as Loro Sexi, the botanical-archaeological park “El Majuelo” or the Aquarium. In addition, to the Interpretation Center of the Castle of La Herradura: “1562. La Furia del Mar”.
Tourism offices
  1. The Almuñécar tourist office, located in the Palacete de La Najarra (Avda. Europa), is open every day, in the morning, from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and, in the afternoons, from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  2. The office located on Paseo del Altillo is open from Wednesday to Sunday with the same morning and afternoon hours already mentioned above.
  3. The Tourist Office in La Herradura, located in the Civic Center (Avenida Prieto Moreno), it is open to the public from Monday to Friday with the same hours: from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. and from 6.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, you can contact the Almuñécar Tourist Office at 958 631 125.