La Nava: River Landscape, Hiking Trails and Heritage
Accommodation in La Nava
La Nava combines river scenery, trails and historic buildings with a traditional town center. If you choose a destination based on nature, architecture and local traditions, you will find a range of things to explore here. La Nava is one of the municipalities in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park.
Valley, River and Landscape
La Nava lies on a flat valley floor where the Ribera del MĂşrtiga and RĂo Caliente meet; steep slopes surround the valley. The RĂo MĂşrtiga runs for 12 kilometers through the municipality, accompanied by dense riverside woodland. The landscape is shaped both by the valley floor at the confluence and by the wooded river corridor.
The landscape includes dehesas of cork oaks, holm oaks and Portuguese oaks, as well as the limestone sierra covered with olive groves. There are also riverside woods and orchards irrigated by old channels of Arab origin. The varied landscape ranges from riverbanks and orchards to pastures and the sierra.
Hiking Trails with Different Landmarks
The La Nava–Valdelarco trail crosses the RĂo MĂşrtiga and follows the old paving of a Roman road. It leads to the Ermita del Salvador in the municipality of Valdelarco. Trail conditions may vary seasonally; take this into account when planning your trip.
The La Nava–RĂo Caliente trail first passes a humilladero (wayside shrine) and later the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Virtudes. The two trails therefore differ in their notable features: the La Nava–Valdelarco trail is defined by its river crossing, old road paving and destination of Valdelarco, while the La Nava–RĂo Caliente trail features the two religious buildings as stops along the way.
Town Center and Historic Buildings
The traditional town center is characterized by white façades, gabled roofs, paved streets and squares with vernacular architecture. An important historic monument is the Ermita de las Virtudes, a Mudéjar building dating from the 13th century. Roman materials were reused in its construction, including granite blocks, tegulae and laterculi. Roman building remains have been documented in and around the chapel; a Roman funerary altar was also reused in one of its walls.
Another historical landmark is the Humilladero del Cristo de los Caminantes, which dates from May 1495. The chapel combines Mudéjar style with reused Roman building materials, while a specific date is recorded for the humilladero. La Nava thus brings different aspects of architectural history together.
Fiesta del MelocotĂłn
The Fiesta del Melocotón is dedicated to La Nava’s emblematic peach and takes place on the last full weekend in August. During the festival, residents of La Nava peel more than 300 kilograms of peaches. If you want to plan your trip around this local event, check the exact festival dates for your travel year.
La Nava offers different highlights for those choosing between scenery, hiking and architectural history, which can also be combined with the local festival. This gives you a chance to consider which theme you would like to shape your stay the most.
Discover more destinations: Santa Olalla del Cala, Jabugo, Santa Bárbara De Casa, San Silvestre De Guzmán, Hinojales, Santa Ana La Real, Galaroza, Paterna Del Campo
For the broader travel overview: Huelva.
