Benalúa De Guadix: Hiking, Caves and History

Benalúa De Guadix brings together a variety of interests for trip planning: hiking through the Badlands, cave spaces with religious and cultural history, a church influenced by the Neo-Mudéjar style, and a wine tasting. These different themes give you concrete ideas for planning your stay.

Hiking through the Badlands

The hiking route through the Badlands of Benalúa begins at the Cerro Kabila viewpoint. From there, it descends through the Badlands to irrigated farmland with peach orchards and some vineyards. On the return, the route passes through Barrio del Camarate, a neighbourhood with cave houses. It therefore takes in different landscape and local areas, from the Badlands to farmland and the cave-house neighbourhood.

The PR-155 Sendero de Benalúa a Guadix is designated for the municipalities of Benalúa and Guadix. This makes it another named route among the area’s hiking options.

Caves and history

The San Torcuato religious complex is located in the Face Retama area. It includes an old and a new hermitage, as well as an underground monastic complex with 25 rooms. The first written reference to the hermitage and caves of Face Retama dates from 1696. This date refers to the written reference, not to the construction of the complex.

The Cueva Museo Benalúa is housed in a restored old cave. It has three large halls and modern audiovisual facilities. The museum presents the history, people and traditions of Benalúa. It thus brings together the cave setting and the presentation of local history.

The Cueva del Centro has a different historical role: local workers excavated it during the Second Republic as a space for public meetings, discussions and cultural activities. While the museum presents the history, people and traditions, the focus here is on the cave’s former use as a communal space.

Church and festival tradition

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen adds architectural history and design to the cave-related themes. It was built between 1858 and 1864 and consecrated on 6 February 1864. It has a basilica-style floor plan and a Neo-Mudéjar style. Its walls are made of brickwork, as well as sections filled in using rammed earth or stone. The construction period and consecration date provide the historical context; the floor plan, style and materials describe its architectural design.

The Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen are celebrated every year on 16 July. The procession route is changed each year so that it passes through all the neighbourhoods. The date stays the same, while the route varies from year to year.

Wine tasting

At Bodegas Pago de Almaraes, the cellar visit includes a guided tasting of four wines and a snack of regional cured meats; booking details may change.

Discover more destinations: Cáñar, Murchas, Ogíjares, Hernán-Valle, Padul, Salobreña, Illora, Otura.

For the broader travel overview: Granada.