BENALÚA DE GUADIX
by Saskia Mier
According to legend, San Torcuato became a martyr in Benalúa de Guadix and was buried where a small chapel has now been built in his honour. Benalúa de Guadix was built on clay land, which made it easy to carve out the area's distinctive cave dwellings. The town has a population of around 3,300.
HISTORY
Accitania is one of the oldest human settlements in Europe. Located very close to Benalúa, but within the municipality of Fonelas, is the Paleolithic site of Solana del Zamborino and the Argaric culture site of Cerro del Gallo. Fossilised animal remains, stoneware and Argaric pottery, as well as copper tools, have been found at these sites. While some historians place the Iberian and Roman settlement of Acci near Benalúa, the remains found suggest that it was located in present-day Guadix. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Ermita de San Torcuato.
The San Torcuato religious complex lies in the area known as Face Retama. It is made up of the old and new hermitages, as well as an underground monastic complex containing twenty-five rooms. The building has a simple architectural design and houses an image and several relics of San Torcuato, the patron saint of Guadix. The first written mention of the hermitage and caves of Face Retama dates back to 1696. It is located on Calle Escuelas.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
The church that stands today was built between 1858 and 1864 and was consecrated under the patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on 6 February 1864. It was designed by the Granada-born architect Francisco Contreras. Designed in the Neo-Mudejar style, it has a basilica-style floor plan and is built with brick masonry and adobe or stone caissons, covered with a modest wooden structure. Behind the presbytery and next to the bell tower is the sacristy, with two altars on either side. In 1965, a perpendicular nave was added to accommodate a growing congregation, thus transforming the nineteenth-century nave into a spacious presbytery. The church is located in Plaza de la Iglesia.
Museo del Pueblo.
The Cueva del Centro, also known as the Benalúa Museum, was excavated by unionised workers from the town during the Second Republic as a meeting and cultural centre. Hence its name, which is still remembered in the town. It is an exhibition centre designed using contemporary criteria and making intensive use of audiovisual resources. Its content is based on the town's history and identity. It is located on Calle Los Pinos.
COUNTRYSIDE WALKS
Ruta de Senderismo Benalúa-Badlands.
This route starts at the Cerro Kabila viewpoint, where you can enjoy stunning views of the contrasting landscapes of the municipality and the surrounding area. After walking along a zigzagging path through badlands for a few minutes, we begin to descend to a meadow area with peach orchards, vineyards and pine trees, which provide welcome shade for a rest. After walking along a dirt track, we reach Benalúa and begin the ascent back to the viewpoint through the Camarate neighbourhood, an area of cave dwellings.
Ruta de Senderismo Vega de Benalúa.
This route starts on the regional road connecting Benalúa and Fonelas. From there, it continues along a dirt track through orchards filled with peach trees, which are the most abundant and famous fruit in this area.
HANDICRAFTS
As can be expected by a village nestled in red clay hill countryside, the typical handicrafts made at Benalúa de Guadix are crowned by clay, esparto grass, cane and embroidery works.
BUS SERVICE
There is a bus service from Benalúa de Guadix to Granada City. More>
TRAIN SERVICE
There is a train service from Benalúa de Guadix to Almería and Granada City. The train station in Benalúa de Guadix is on Avenida la Estación.
GASTRONOMY
Food lovers will be able to enjoy extremely tasty dishes such as patatas a la Española (potato salad), olla de San Antón (chickpea stew), quails, partridge, rabbit, barbecued lamb, Spanish spicy sausage and black pudding. Other typical dishes for those with a sweet tooth are the butter confectionery, tortas de pringue (sweet pastry) and guiso de tarbinas de matalahúva (aniseed pudding).
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Benalúa de Guadix are Fiestas de San Antón, San Torcuato, San José and Feria y Fiestas de Nuestra Señora del Carmen. More>
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for Benalúa de Guadix. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of Benalúa de Guadix is located in the Town Hall. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Benalúa de Guadix are Guadix and Purullena.
