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

A trip through the easternmost region of the Alpujarras, from the foothills of the Sierra de Gádor to the banks of the Nacimiento River. The route begins in Alhama de Almería. This village rises amidst the rugged mountain landscape of the Sierra de Gádor like a balcony overlooking the valley of the Andarax River, with only the green vineyards in between.
As its name suggests, this place is particularly deeply influenced by its Moorish heritage. Al-hammam means thermal baths in Arabic, and you can still admire them today in the spa town of San Nicolás. On the Cerro de la Cruz hill, you can find the remains of the Nasrid fortress of Los Castillejos, as well as the remains of the Islamic marabout of Cruz de Arriba. The town planning and architecture, with its narrow streets and cubic houses, are also clearly of Moorish heritage.

But the origins of Alhama de Almería date back to pre-Islamic times, as evidenced by the astonishingly well-preserved Roman bridge, La Puente. The town was destroyed by an earthquake in 1522 and experienced its final decline with the expulsion of the Moors in 1570. It wasn't until the end of the 19th century that the town regained its lost glory thanks to mining in the Sierra de Gádor and grape growing in Ohanes. At this time, a thriving middle class emerged, producing famous people such as Nicoles Salmerón, who was later appointed President of the First Spanish Republic in 1873. Traces of history are visible at every corner of this beautiful town.
Just north of Alhama, at the foot of the Sierra de Gádor, lie the small villages of Alicún and Huécija. Alicún is surrounded by terraced farming, also a legacy from the Al-Andalus period. This agricultural village, with Moorish influences, was first mentioned by the geographer al-Idrisi in the 12th century, when it was still a district of neighboring Huécija.
Huécija, which has retained its noble appearance to this day, experienced its heyday in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the annual cattle market was held here. In addition to its architectural monuments, it also preserves a peculiar irrigation system along its streets.