Benamejí

Two main themes can help you choose a stay in Benamejí: its archaeological and architectural heritage, and the landscape along the Río Genil. Local highlights include an underground structure, a Renaissance bridge, historic waterwheels and geological features. Depending on your interests, you can explore Benamejí from a cultural and historical or a landscape perspective.

Archaeology and Architecture

The Yacimiento de La Silera is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the category of archaeological sites. The site consists of an underground structure carved into the rock, probably used to store agricultural produce. It is considered unique in Andalusia because no similar agricultural storage facilities are known there.

The Puente Renacentista Hernán Ruiz II spans the Río Genil on the old road to Antequera and dates from the 16th century. It has been protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural since 2001. It was designed by Hernán Ruiz II and is the only fully completed engineering work by the architect to have been built entirely from scratch. Its role as a river crossing and historic road link, together with its architectural history, offers different ways to understand the bridge.

The Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción was built on the orders of Don Diego de Bernuy, the first Marquis of Benamejí, and is considered a representative example of Cordoban Baroque. It houses a large collection of paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. Its patron and collection complement the archaeological perspective of La Silera with Baroque architecture and older paintings.

History and Cultural Themes

The Centro-Museo La Duquesa de Benamejí is dedicated to historical and romantic banditry. A historical tour explores 19th-century romantic banditry, while literature, music, painting, visual arts, theatre and film broaden the perspective on the subject. If you are planning a visit, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

The Ruta del Tempranillo is inspired by the legend of the romantic bandit José María “El Tempranillo” and passes through the provinces of Córdoba, Seville and Málaga. In the Cordoban section, it connects, among other places, Jauja, Lucena, Benamejí and Palenciana. Benamejí Bandolera was an organised historical immersion activity in Benamejí in 2024. If an event is important to your trip, check the specific dates for the relevant edition.

The Parroquia is also part of an annual calendar event: on 15 August, Benamejí’s patron saint, Nuestra Señora de Gracia Coronada, is brought down into the town and remains in the church until 13 September. If you would like to plan your trip around this period, check the current programme.

The Río Genil and Its Routes

The Río Genil runs through Benamejí from east to west along a deeply cut course with pronounced meanders. Parts of the western municipal area have rugged terrain and very steep slopes. The riverside woodland includes tamarisks as well as centuries-old alders, elms and poplars, combining natural and human-shaped vegetation.

The earliest settlements in Benamejí are associated with the Castillo de Gómez Arias. The castle overlooks the Río Genil and lies in a landscape south of the town, some distance from it. Benamejí’s origins date back to the 9th century. The viewpoint on Paseo Reina Sofía, popularly known as La Grieta, offers views of the castle and the Puente Renacentista Hernán Ruiz II. La Grieta de Benamejí is one of Andalusia’s most significant geological features and nearly caused part of the town to disappear.

The Ruta de las Norias del Río Genil is a circular route through pine plantations, olive groves, gardens, orchards and riverside woodland. It leads to the waterwheels of Huerta de las Cruces, Isla de San Miguel and Campo del Castillo, which are believed to date back to the Arab period. The route also includes the PR-A 160, known as the Camping Path, and a section of the Paisajes con Historia: Ruta de las Norias del Río Genil hiking trail. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.

Activities to consider for adventure tourism on the Río Genil near Benamejí include canoeing, rafting, bungee jumping and canyoning. The Centro de Actividades del Río Genil serves as a visitor reception centre for people coming to Benamejí and El Tejar to travel downstream along the river. If this centre is important to your plans, check in advance which services are currently available.

Discover more destinations: Villanueva De Córdoba, Hornachuelos, Castro Del Río, Ochavillo del Río, Silillos, Espiel, Villanueva Del Rey, Pozoblanco.

For the broader travel overview: Cordoba.