Cuevas del Almanzora

The town of Cuevas del Almanzora is situated in the northeast of the province of Almeróa in an important area of cultures and wealth. Its landscape is made up of dry, semi-desert land full of esparto grass, interrupted now and again by irrigated land and the green fertile plains in the places the water reaches.

The privileged location and the proximity to the coast, which the town enjoys, have converted it throughout history in a local economic and trade centre. If we add to this the times of splendour during the mining of the Sierra Almagrera we can comprehend that we are in a town with a great deal of history in its streets and houses, as seen in the castle, the Town Hall or the house of the poet Sotomayor.

Where is cuevas del almanzora?

Cuevas del Almanzora is a municipality in the province of Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. It has an extension of 263 square kilometers, limited to the south and west by the municipalities of Vera and Antas, to the north by those of Huercal-Overa and Pulpí; and to the East it is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, along 14 kilometers of coastline.

The Almanzora, is the longest of the Almería rivers, it furrows the lands of Cuevas, making its way between the foothills of the Sierra de Almagro, a small mountain range located to the northwest, in which the Cucharón hill is located, which raises our maximum height up to 711 meters.

Following the coast, the mythical and once rich Sierra Almagrera aligns, a low-lying formation that is linked to the north with those of Castillaricos and Los Pinos.

The contemplation of this rugged landscape, cracked by erosion, leads one to think of a climate characterized, on occasions, by extreme conditions. Long and very hot summers contrast with cool and brief winters, while autumn and spring present very moderate features.

The easiest way to get to Cuevas del Almanzora is traveling on the A7/E15 motorway and taking the exit 692 from either Almeria or Murcia. From here you simply follow the signs for about 10 minutes and you’ll find yourselves in the center of the town.

Airport Travel Times:

Almeria Airport – 55 minutes

Murcia Airport – 1 hour and 20 minutes

Alicante Airport – 2 hours

For airport transport check out www.exclusiveairportshuttles.co.uk

areas of cuevas del almanzora

Due to the shear size of Cuevas del Almanzora we can only cover here a few of the dozens of hamlets:

– El Potillo

– Lago Azul

– La Muleria

– Los Lobos

– El Largo

– Grima

– Palomares

– Villaricos

– Las Herrerias

– Bujulu

– Guazamara

– Desert Springs

– El Calon

– Pozo del Esparto

– El Alhanchete

What amenities can i find in cuevas del almanzora?

In Cuevas del Almanzora there is an array of shops available for all your daily needs plus a huge variety of bars and restaurants from pizzerias to tapas bars. You’ll also find in Cuevas del Almanzora local butchers, bakeries, fishmongers, hairdressers, insurance offices, a post office, pharmacy, several bank branches and much more! There’s also a Mercadona supermarket chain which is the biggest chain in Spain.

Cuevas del Almanzora covers such a large area that many of the hamlets have almost turned into villages of their own which we have covered individually like Palomares or Villaricos. Cuevas del Almanzora is also home to the only Desert Golf Course in Spain called Desert Springs.

Cuevas del Almanzora also benefits from a industrial zone called “Valle del Almanzora” with a huge variety of businesses available which include construction, car dealerships, aluminium/pvc, fuel station, mechanics, hardware stores, a petshop, fishing shop, etc.

Other services in the town include a medical center with A&E and a bus station to neighbouring towns.

what schools are available in Cuevas del Almanzora?

In Cuevas del Almanzora you’ll find all levels of education including nursery, infant, primary and secondary.

what day is the market held in Cuevas del Almanzora?

Cuevas del Almanzora strangely holds 2 street market days a week and is the only town/village in the area that does this. These are every Tuesday and Thursday morning. The market is held in the “Plaza de la Libertad” which is the parking area of the towns castle called “Castillo del Marqués de los Velez”. Free parking is available on neighbouring streets and is easily accessible on foot from most of the town.

when do the local "fiestas" take place in Cuevas del Almanzora?

Cuevas del Almanzora holds many fiestas over the course of the year due to most of the hamlets having their own patron saints or celebrations. We’ll number them below in order:

Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen

The festival begins in the hamlet of “La Portilla” on the first day of the year. Its main characteristic, and what sets it apart from the rest of the festivals in Cuevas del Almanzora, is that it has two religious images: La Virgen del Carmen and El Niño. The other places that also celebrate during this period are “El Rulador” (2nd January) and the Barrio Bravo of the town (5th January).

Fiesta de San Antón

This festival takes place on the 17th January and is characterized for being one of the most popular celebrations. It begins with an alborada at 6 in the morning that, accompanied by the Municipal Band and the neighbors, walk through the streets of the municipality saying good morning to the entire town.

Fiesta de la Convivencia de Los Lobos

It takes place on the day of San José (19th March), in honor of the patron saint of the hamlet of Los Lobos. It is a festive day, in which they gather to cook and taste a giant paella, accompanied by an orchestra.

Pilgrimage of the Retired

At first, this pilgrimage was intended for the elderly population of Cuevas, although it has now become a party for people of any age. It normally takes place on the last weekend of April. It begins with a parade of floats that leaves from the center for the elderly in Cuevas towards the area of ‘La Olla’, where they camp all day. There, a giant paella is made for all attendees who also bring their snacks.

Pilgrimage of the people of Los Guiraos – Guazamara

It began to be celebrated in 1996. As usual, it takes place on the third Sunday of May. The pilgrimage takes place over three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. During these days, different meals are prepared for the attendees such as paella, potatoes cooked with garlic, grilled sardines.

Fiestas of Las Herrerías

This festival takes place on Corpus Christi Day, mid-June. Highlights of this festival include the mass in the hermitage of Luis Siret and the procession, where all the children from the nearby districts are dressed for communion.

Fiestas of El Larga & Grima

This festival takes place between the two hamlets and is held between the last week of July and the first week of August. On Friday a sardine barbeque is organized in Grima and in Ventorrillo the dance, where children’s games and activities also take place on Saturday. At seven o’clock the procession of the Virgen de la Purísima departs to Grima where you’re greeted with “Cueva” (wine diluted with water and mixed with sugar) that is distributed to all those present. Afterwards, around one in the morning, there is a great fireworks display and on Sunday afternoon mass is celebrated in Grima and a procession is carried out with a pilgrimage towards Ventorrillo.

Fiesta de Las Cunas

This is a festival of coexistence between the residents of the town, which has been taking place for years on July 25. In the morning a mass is held in honor of the Patron Saint Our Lady La Dolorosa and in the afternoon the traditional procession of the Virgin is celebrated accompanied by the music band. The festival continues with a social meal, dancing and children’s games for the little ones.

Fiestas of Palomares

These festivities take place at the beginning of August in honor of the Patron Saint, the Virgen del Carmen. The first day there are different championships: dominoes, billiards, indoor-football, etc. The second day the election of the children and youth Queen is celebrated. On the third day, around 11:30 in the morning, there is a peculiar flower walk in which the residents are dressed in regional costumes and with bouquets of flowers to give them as an offering to the Virgin. It is on this day when the midday fair begins at the fairgrounds, where you can try the typical dishes of the village.

Fiestas of Los Lobos

These fiestas take place the first weekend of August, in honor of the Virgen del Carmen. It begins on Friday afternoon with a multitude of activities and children’s games. On Saturday morning, there is a petanque contest, remote-controlled car races and the indoor football championship, among others, and in the afternoon there is a pilgrimage with the image of San José (patron saint of the town) and the Virgen del Carmen from Los Lobos to El Molino del Tarahal. Once there an outdoor mass is celebrated. Around two in the morning a lamb is raffled and, at five, they make “migas” (a traditional dish) for the people who continue with the party.

On Sunday routes are carried out on quad bikes and country motorcycles and, at noon, a paella is cooked to regain strength since afterwards it is obligatory to participate in the corrida de cintas and the motorcycle race. At 8 o’clock in the afternoon the procession takes place, along with the handover of trophies and around one o’clock in the morning we have the great fireworks display.

Fiestas de Villaricos

This festival dates back more than a century, in honor of the Virgin of Our Lady of the Assumption.

The most important day is the 15th August, which begins with a reveille at 7 in the morning through the streets with music and rockets while the residents of the towns give donations to the virgin.

At 12 in the morning, mass is celebrated in the church and, afterwards, they parade through the streets of the municipality to the fishing port of La Balsica. There the festivities commission and the musicians go up to the Virgin while the boat procession begins along the coast in the direction of the Dolores beach. This procession is accompanied by some thirty boats all adorned with little papers and flowers. They all turn around at Playa de la Dolores and return to Puerto de la Esperanza where they disembark the Virgin. The companions continue the procession through the streets of the town in the direction of the Church.

Fiestas de Pozo del Esparto

Feast of coexistence between the families that spend the summer in this coastal enclave that is celebrated on the 14th and 15th of August.

On the first day of the festival, in the afternoon, a parade takes place with all the children and adults dressed up. At night, it is characteristic to hold barbecues in your garden or on the beach. From twelve o’clock the traditional bonfires are lit. On Sunday there are ribbon runs and sack races where all participants get gifts. To put the finishing touch to this summer party, a rock concert is organized.

Fiestas de Las Canalejas

This fiesta takes place on the last weekend of August, in honor of Santa Ana. It begins on Saturday night with barbeque sardines for all attendees and dancing enlivened by an orchestra in the town square. On Sunday activities and children’s games are carried out and at noon people are invited to a great paella. In the afternoon the patron saint of the town is taken out in procession through the most important streets.

Fiestas del Calón

Feast of coexistence between the families that spend the summer in this Cuevas coastal enclave- This fiesta is celebrated on the 15th August, in honor of the Virgen del Carmen.

In the afternoon, a parade of clowns, giants and big heads takes place, and at night, it is characteristic to hold barbecues in gardens or on the beach.

Fiestas de la Mulería

This festival dates back more than 50 years and has always been celebrated on the 2nd February, although since 2006 it has been celebrated in August (26th and 27th).

During the first day of the festival there are children’s games, sports and cultural activities (theatre) and at night you can enjoy music and dancing enlivened by the best local orchestras.

On the second and last day of the festival, in the morning, mass takes place and at noon a meal where attendees can taste the typical dishes of the area.

In the afternoon, there is a procession in honor of the town’s patron saint (La Virgen del Carmen) and then, putting the final touch on the party, a fireworks display.

Pilgrimage of Palomares

This fiesta began in 2003 promoted by the Commission of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Carmen. It normally takes place during the first week of September.

On Saturday morning the floats leave in procession presided over by the image of the Virgen del Carmen and crossing the entire town they reach the so-called ‘Bosque de Palomares’. Here a mass is held in honor of the Virgin, then paella to regain strength and at night the typical sardine barbeque is eaten. Many of the attendees spend the night in this woodland.

Fiestas de Guazamara

This fiesta takes place on the 7th October in honor of the Virgen del Rosario and is normally held during the weekend closest to that day. It begins with the parade of giants and big heads accompanied by a music band. In the afternoon there are children’s games and different sports and cultural activities (theatre). During the night attendees can enjoy dancing or with the election of party king and queen.

On Saturday morning you can attend the ribbon race and more children’s games, then a midday fair in the town’s bars and prizes for the best dishes. In the afternoon, a beer race, a biker rally with a quad bike race with a prize for the best timed race, and finally a bike ride with a raffle for a bicycle.

Feria de Cuevas del Almanzora

This is the biggest fiesta of the year and takes place in mid-November, as the festivity of San Diego de Alcalá, patron saint of Cuevas del Almanzora, is celebrated on the 13th.

The chupinazo, from the balcony of the Town Hall, is performed every year by a different celebrity. With the lighting of the fairgrounds, one of the most important fairs in eastern Almeria begins.

The fairgrounds are located in the surroundings of the Luis Siret park, which is decked out and decorated with attractions, street stalls and bars for locals and foreigners to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

In the evening, the welcoming spirit and cheerful character of the people is felt throughout the fairgrounds. The best live concerts of the moment and the most famous orchestras come together in the Multipurpose Hall. The booths, typically decorated and adorned, are filled with people wanting to have a good time.

At noon the fairgrounds become a meeting point for families, friends, and girls dressed in the typical Rociera gowns, which add color to this fair. This is the space to enjoy singing, dancing and savoring the most typical dishes of Cuevas cuisine, cooked with care and affection by the members of the brotherhoods and clubs that set up the booths.

You can also buy in the multitude of street stalls that surprise each year by the number and variety of items they offer.

Fiesta de San Francisco Javier (Palomares)

This fiesta is celebrated on 3rd December, coinciding with the festival of San Francisco Javier, patron saint of Palomares. It is a day of coexistence among the people of the town who meet to prepare food with typical products that they will later taste in the square. In the afternoon the mass is celebrated and then the procession. In the evening, usually, a music concert is organized.

Fiestas de Burjulu

This fiesta is celebrated on the 7th and 8th December in honor of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. On the first day, at dawn we’re accompanied by the music band and rockets, in the afternoon there is a surprise box run and a children’s theater. At night, in the social room, there is a dance enlivened by an orchestra and the election of the children’s and youth king and queen of the festivities. Well into the early morning, attendees are invited to bread and ham to regain strength and continue with the party. The next day, after dawn, the mass and the tasting of typical dishes are celebrated. In the afternoon, the Virgen de la Purísima leaves in solemn procession. To end the festivities, a dance and a fireworks display are held at night.

Fiesta de Las Maravillas

The Brotherhood of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas celebrates its festivities in honor of its patron saint on Christmas dates, during the last week of December.

The most important date of these festivities is focused on the last day of the year when all the acts aimed at paying homage to the Virgin are held.

At 11:30 in the morning, an emotional rociera mass takes place in honor of the Virgen de las Maravillas. After this begins the traditional auction and then the Brotherhood offers a meal in the community hall, where you can enjoy a family atmosphere. At sunset the solemn procession arrives in which the image walks through the streets of the town, making its arrival at the Church a crucial moment and one of great emotion for those present who crowd the parish to bid farewell to the Virgin with the traditional salute. After the chimes, the residents of the town meet at the social venue to welcome the new year.