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

The Bajo Andarax basin stretches between Almería and Santa Fe de Mondújar, in the valley of the Sierra de Gádor and Sierra Alhamilla. Here, in the hinterland, nature, archaeology, and tradition merge, and it's impossible to guess that the Mediterranean coast lies just a few kilometers away.

Adjacent to the important industrial center of Huércal de Almería lies the small rural village of Viator, a former suburb. The cradle of modern-day Almería is Pechina, which proudly looks back on a long tradition. During the Al-Andalus era, it was at the head of the maritime republic of Bayyana, an important cultural and spiritual center, as evidenced by the archaeological remains of Bayyana.

Roman baths can be seen at the Balneario de Sierra Alhamilla archaeological site. These thermal baths were previously used by the Phoenicians and later by the Moors. We are at the gateway to the Sierra Alhamilla natural landscape, an ideal place for hiking, whose holm oak forests form a stark contrast to the barren landscape around Níjar and the Tabernas Desert.

But now back to the Andarax Basin. A visit to the small town of El Chuche, part of Benahadux, is well worth the effort. Remains of the neighboring culture of Los Millares, as well as the Romano-Iberian city of Urci, have been found here. Nearby, Rioja, with its 17th-century church, appears on the banks of the river.
In Gádor, the orchards meet the desert, creating a curious combination. This white cave village, situated at the foot of the mountains of the same name, is dominated by the silhouette of its church. This region boasts an extraordinary density of archaeological sites, such as the Roman city of Quiciliana (4th century BC). The towers of El Castillejo and Don Alonso, a beautiful palace, testify to the strategic importance of this place in the past.

The Andarax River accompanies us to Santa Fe de Mondújar, where we should visit the Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario and the Ermita del Carmen, built over the former mosque.
Here, too, archaeological excavations are of exceptional importance, as this municipality is home to the highly interesting site of Los Millares. Visiting this site is a must for archaeology enthusiasts, who can discover how people lived in this place over four thousand years ago.