Deifontes between springs and history
Accommodation in Deifontes
Discover Deifontes through two themes: the water at El Nacimiento and the town’s cultural and historical buildings. The Ruta de los NazarĂes also provides a guide: it passes through Deifontes between Iznalloz and Albolote and lists the Tower of Deifontes among the surviving watchtowers and castle remains.
El Nacimiento and the Cubillas River
El Nacimiento is a spring area about one kilometre from the centre of Deifontes. Water bubbles up there through sandy pools shaded by poplars, rockroses, elms and willows. The average flow is stated to be 1,000 litres per second. Both the springs and the riverside vegetation shape the character of this area.
The Cubillas River runs through El Nacimiento. There are two dams there: one is modern, while the other is badly deteriorated. Its original Roman ashlar blocks have nevertheless survived in the older dam. The Presa de Barcinas is another Roman structure; it dates from around the 1st or 2nd century BC and was used to hold back the waters of the Cubillas.
The Atalaya Route and its watchtower
The Arab Atalaya Route begins in Deifontes. Its route follows the Camino de la Atalaya, the Pico del Llano and the Collado de la Atalaya to La Atalaya de Deifontes. The ascent passes through olive groves towards the Sierra Arana.
La Atalaya is a watchtower built in the 14th century during the Nasrid period. From there, the entire Cubillas River valley can be seen: from Iznalloz, across mountains and plains, to the Cubillas Reservoir and neighbouring towns. Historically, the tower formed part of an Arab communications and alarm network used to defend Arab settlements. The route, construction period and former function each give the tower a distinct connection to the town’s history.
Archaeological and architectural traces
Roman, Arab and Neolithic remains have been found at the Las Erillas archaeological site. Stone columns from Roman buildings survive at Venta del Nacimiento. They probably belonged to a temple dedicated to the god of water. The tentative attribution of the columns is important: the temple is considered a likely, not a confirmed, explanation.
The Iglesia de San MartĂn was built in the 17th century in the MudĂ©jar style, over an existing small chapel. Inside, the church has a single-nave layout and an artistic coffered ceiling decorated with lacerĂa patterns. It also has a three-storey bell tower with a distinctive steep hipped roof. The chapel, architectural style and details of the ceiling and tower each point to different aspects of the building.
The Casa Palacio de los Condes de Antillón, later the palace of the Marqueses de Casablanca, now houses Deifontes Town Hall. At La Fábrica de la Luz, the remains of two former hydroelectric plants can still be seen. These historic buildings add further traces of local history to the archaeological sites.
Getting there, olive oil and events
Deifontes can be reached from Granada via the A-44. The C-336 branches off the A-44 at kilometre 108. Check road conditions before setting out.
The San Isidro de Deifontes cooperative lists extra virgin olive oil and organic olive oil among its products. Its olive oil brands are Coprovir, Ecovir and Fuentes de Dios. If you are interested in local olive oil culture, these product and brand names provide a specific connection to the cooperative.
A rapid chess tournament, considered one of the best of its kind in Spain, is held in the municipality in October. Check the announced dates for your travel year before planning around the event.
Discover more destinations: Cuevas Del Campo, OgĂjares, Cenes De La Vega, Murtas, La Calahorra, Murchas, Alpujarra De La Sierra, La Zubia.
Go to the main travel overview: Granada.
