Villa Ciscarejo Country house between orange groves in Gádor (Almería)

General information

Gádor is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of Almería, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It lies at an altitude of 173 meters above sea level and approximately 15 kilometers from the provincial capital, Almería. According to the 2024 National Statistics Institute (INE), the municipality of Gádor has an area of ​​87.6 km² and a population of 3,067.
It is a white town on the slopes of the mountain range of the same name, with a unique landscape of oases (citrus groves) and shimmering deserts. Part of the town of Los Millares also belongs to this district. Amidst this landscape lies the town with its interesting cave architecture, its bright streets lined with white houses, and its magnificent parish church.
Gádor is known as the "Orange Town" or "Orange Village" due to its extensive orange groves, which stretch on both sides of the Andarax River (which means "Era of Life" in Arabic),which flows through the town. Gádor's economy has been based primarily on orange production since the 19th century, when the production of other agricultural products such as oil and silk was abandoned.
In addition to its agricultural wealth, Gádor boasts various places of tourist interest, including the Church of the Rosary, the Hermitage of the Holy Cross, the Cortijo Cuatro Torres, and the Castillejo. The Town Hall and the Casa Don Mariano, which house the historical and ethnographic heritage of the Bajo Andarax region, are also located there.
The town is located in the Almería metropolitan area and has a time zone of UTC +1:00 in winter and UTC +2:00 in summer.

Places of interest

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Church of Our Lady of the Rosary): one of the most monumental churches in the province
Cortijo de Cuatro Torres: imposing farmhouse with four towers at the corners
Ermita de ánimas (Hermitage of Souls): originally dates from 1820 and was later rebuilt in 1999
El Castillejo: Ruins of a castle of Arabic origin declared a site of cultural interest
Ermita de la Santa Cruz (Hermitage of the Holy Cross): A religious monument built on the hill of the Guardia Civil barracks in Gádor, known as Cerro de la Cruz. In May, the Day of the Cross is celebrated. On this day, the monument is decorated by covering the cross with flowers. A street party is held in the town square, and sandwiches and punch are distributed.
El Caz y Cubo del Marqués de Araoz: Remains of the ancient irrigation system of this period. Its state of preservation is impeccable.
Necrópolis Megalítica de Gádor (Megalithic Necropolis of Gádor): The Megalithic Necropolis of Gádor is a funerary complex of great archaeological interest, consisting mainly of megalithic tombs featuring a polygonal central chamber with vertical stones and a flat roof. In addition, a tholos tomb, or false dome tomb, was discovered at the site, further enhancing its archaeological importance. The site was declared a Cultural Monument in 2007, under the category of Archaeological Zone.
Casa Don Mariano (Museum): This unique building is an important place to learn about the history and culture of Gádor and the Bajo Andarax region, including ethnographic, mining, and water-cultural aspects.

History

A town at the foot of the Sierra de Gádor. Of Arab origin, although its name dates back to the Phoenician-Iberian culture, it is notable for its landscape and agricultural activity, as well as its valleys dotted with orange groves. Remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods have been found, confirming settlement during this historical period. During the Al-Andalus era, there was a mosque and an aljama here. An irrigation system was created, practically the same as the one we have today, allowing the water to be used for agriculture and mills. It began at the source of the Dividers and crossed various parts of the town at an underground level. In the 16th century, it also housed a forge. At the time of the Christian conquest, the town had a population of 160, the majority of whom were Moors. The Moorish revolt and their subsequent expulsion left Gádor virtually depopulated. The repopulation with Old Christians took place in the years following the expulsion in 1570.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the new population settled in a new ravine, where the town now stands. In the 19th century, traditional agriculture, based on garden produce, oil, and silk, was abandoned, and a monoculture of the Ohanes grape was introduced. After its decline, this was replaced by oranges. Furthermore, the development of mining in this century would bring about major changes. Specifically, sulfur mining complexes were planned. The population increase resulting from growing economic activity led to the construction of houses with doors and windows, typical of those found throughout the Almería metropolitan area at the time. The result of this activity is an interesting landscape of industrial archaeology. This mining activity has since been replaced by cement production in the Jalvo region.

Toponymy (origin of the name)

The name Gádor is likely of Iberian origin and derives from the term "gaidur," which in turn is a variation of "kaitur." It is speculated that this word could in turn be d erived from "gwhai-," meaning "bright" or "white."