La Nava de Ricomalillo: Rock Art, Trails and History

La Nava de Ricomalillo brings together archaeological rock art, trails with a variety of features, and distinctive traces of local history. For orientation, it helps to distinguish between the town center and the municipal area: the church is a landmark in the town center, while the La Cerca rock engravings are outside it. The trails also offer different highlights—from a linear section of the GR 166 to panoramic views across La Jara. This makes it easy to organize the themes according to your own interests.

Rock Art at La Cerca

The La Cerca rock engravings are in the municipal area, two kilometers south-southwest of the town center. Their precise location places the archaeological site outside the center, distinguishing it from the sights in the town center. The engravings were made using pecking and incision. The ensemble includes anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and ideomorphic motifs. The techniques describe how the rock was worked, while the motif groups classify the forms depicted. For those interested in archaeological art, this offers a look at two distinct aspects: the working methods and the variety of motifs.

Trail Section and Panoramic Views

The sixth section of the GR 166 Camino de Guadalupe is a 17.4-kilometer linear trail from La Nava de Ricomalillo to Campillo de la Jara. It starts at a signpost on La Nava's plaza and heads toward a restored old washhouse. The route also takes you to the Río Frío, where you can see old mills. The starting point, direction, and landscape features give the route a distinct character. Its linear layout sets it apart from a circular route.

The Ruta del Cerro del Castillo offers a different highlight. It is in the natural area of La Nava de Ricomalillo and offers panoramic views across the landscape of La Jara. By contrast, the GR 166 focuses on a linear section with a named start, destination, and route, while views across the landscape are the defining feature of Cerro del Castillo. This difference can help you choose based on the theme you want for your outing. If you are planning a trail section, it is advisable to check trail conditions and local signage, as both can change.

Town Center and Tradition

The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is at the heart of the town center. It is the town's main religious and heritage landmark. This offers a different way to explore local history than the rock art outside the center: here, the focus is on a building in the town center, while there, it is on archaeological markings in the municipal area.

The Subida al Mogorro is another enduring tradition. It has continued for many years and is still observed today, though on a considerably reduced scale. Both its continuity and its changed scope are part of how it is understood today. A specific scene is recorded for Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944: after Mass celebrating the Resurrection, residents climbed Cerro del Mogorro with flags and images of saints and left offerings there to protect against thunderstorms. Religious observance, the climb, and a plea for protection are closely linked in this account.

Mining History and Views

The former gold mining industry is also part of the town's history. In the 18th century, the gold vein at the former gold mine was the richest on the Iberian Peninsula. A viewpoint at the former mine offers views of southern La Jara and the Sierra de Guadalupe. This links the history of mining with a clearly defined panorama: the view extends across two named landscapes, while the gold vein connects the site to the town's history.

Discover more destinations: Totanés, Bernuy, La Torre De Esteban Hambrán, Pepino, Rinconada, Serranillos Playa, La Puebla De Almoradiel, San Pablo De Los Montes

For the main travel overview: Toledo.