Designated a natural park in 1987, the Sierra María-Los Vélez occupies the eastern end of the Cordillera Subbética in the north of Almeria province. It covers 22,670ha, a landscape of impressive contrasts, with its arid, moon-like plains overlooked by the Sierra's rocky summits, which are white with snow in winter, and the dry, barren south-facing slopes compared to its densely wooded north-facing ones.
The chapel was built in the Las Cruces neighborhood in the second half of the sixteenth century to venerate the Virgen de la Soledad. The adjacent monument of the cross was built later to celebrate the Viacrucis.
The Sanctuary was built at the end of the sixteenth century at the foot of the Sierra de María in honor of the Virgen de la Cabez who, according to tradition, appeared to shepherds in this exact spot. Since 1813, on the last Sunday in April, festivals have been held in honor of this Virgin, and her icon remains in the town throughout May.
According to an inscription, the church was finished on February 20, 1557, under the reign of Felipe II and the second Marquis de los Vélez, Luis Fajardo. It is of Mudejar style, and consists of the eighteenth-century Rosario chapel, a sundial and pine wood doors with forged rivets and knockers.
The Convent was built in 1920 and was inhabited successively by nuns of the Claridad (Corneta) and Clausura (Madres Mercedarias). It was abandoned in the early 1960s. In 1988, it was bought and restored by the Town Hall, and today it is used for socio-cultural purposes. Located on Calle Hornos.
The Tourist Office is located in the Town Hall of María, opening from Monday to Friday.
Festivals in Mária: Cabalgata de Reyes Magos, Semana Santa, Fiesta de Primavera en Honor a la Virgen de la Cabeza, Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos, Fiestas de Santa Quiteria, Olimpiadas de Verano and Jornadas Gastronómicas.
María forms part of the Parque Natural Sierra de María-Los Vélez and is one of the area’s greatest attractions. It has an interesting archaeological heritage, especially present in the cave paintings in Cueva de Haza and the Iberian population at El Pasico. It has about 1200 inhabitants.
Visitors to the Almond and Cereal Museum can learn about the varieties of almonds and a selection of the sweet dishes and breads made from them. The Museum also explains the different methods of sowing cereal grain, as well as the tools used for harvesting, warehousing and the wheat mill. Located in Calle Cerrico.
