Velez Blanco

Velez Rubio | Velez Blanco | Maria | Chirivel

In the northern zone of Almeria and in the nature reserve of Sierra Maria Los Velez, with more than 13,000 hectares of pine woods, you will encounter one of the most beautiful and historical towns of the area - Velez-Blanco - the largest municipality in the area covering a total of 44,020km2 (38.6% of the total area of the Commarca) and situated at a height of 1080m, with 2252habitants.

In the year 1900 there was a total of 23,000 inhabitants in the whole of the Commarca and in 1992 only 12,439. The current density of population in Velez-Blanco is less than 15 people per km2 (compared with 52 in Almeria and a national average of 80). A large part of this municipality is covered by forest.

Velez Blanco is blessed with a dominating position and stunning views across the valley. There is an abundance of water and fountains, with an extensive and fertile valley. Its magnificent defensive position and the excellent access offered to Caravaca, Lorca and Cinco Caños made it the ideal place for Don Pedro Fajardo, the marquis, to build the impressive castle/palace. This was once the administrative centre for the whole area and Velez Blanco was the most densely populated village in the comarca until the 1800's.

There are various fountains in Velez-Blanco supplying the inhabitants with fresh, clear spring water the most well-known being Caños de la Novia, Caños de Caravaca, Caños de la Meson, Caños de la Plaza and Caños de la Alameda. People come from as far as Lorca to "fill up" with the excellent quality drinking water. The town is surrounded by numerous mountains around 2000m high with very characteristic names such as the flat-top mountain, La Muela (taking its name from its resemblance to a molar tooth), Mahimon Grande and Mahimon Pequena. Cave art is abundant in the mountains with over 25 examples of the total of 79 in Andalucia found in this area. Mahimon Grande contains one of the most important groups of schematic paintings of the Iberian Peninsula - the cave of Los Letreros was discovered in 1868 by Antonio Gongora. The cave is 25m wide, 10m high and 6m deep, here are found the naturalistic, schematic, and abstract drawings. The most representative being El Brujo (the Wizard) which has now been adopted as the symbol of Velez Blanco. In the same cave, another famous symbol was also discovered, el Indalo, now the sign of Almeria.