María: Hiking Trails and Regional Culture

A cycling route in the Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park begins in Vélez-Blanco and ends in María. Different route lengths, walking times and trail types can be read here as separate points of comparison for personal planning.

Nature and Trails

The linear Pinar de la Alfahuara trail is 8.295 km long, takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, and has a medium difficulty level. Pinar de la Alfahuara was formerly a hunting ground of the House of Los Vélez and was protected by ordinances issued by King Philip II on 10 March 1591.

The La Umbría de la Virgen trail climbs and descends along a shaded slope of the Sierra María through different vegetation formations adapted to their respective elevations. These include holm oak, juniper and pine forests. The Norte de la Dehesa trail leads into the Dehesa de la Alfahuara, an old and well-preserved mixed forest of pines and holm oaks.

The Dehesa de la Alfahuara was formerly a hunting ground of the Marquisate of Los Vélez, which protected it from excessive use. The Umbría de la Virgen Botanical Garden belongs to the Andalusian Network of Botanical Gardens in Natural Areas. There are short, medium and long trails there, where visitors can learn about a great variety of plant species.

The La Umbría del Mahimón trail passes through the Umbrías del Toril below the prominent Peña de San Blasco, which is 1,742 m high, and the over-1,500-metre-high Umbría del Mahimón Chico; it offers a broad panorama to the north. From María, there is also a view of the rugged cliffs of the Sierra María, whose peaks may be snow-covered.

The María–Barranco del Peral–Vélez-Blanco hiking trail runs along the edge of the natural park through unusual landscapes. Along the way, it passes the ruins of former inhabited cortijos and an old quarry that has not been operated for many years.

Trails with Different Stages

The María–Barranco del Peral–Vélez-Blanco trail is a 10.50 km crossing, takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, and has a medium difficulty level. The María–Cortijo de Perentín–María trail, by contrast, is a 3.95 km circular route with a duration of approximately 45 minutes and a low difficulty level.

The trail to the Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza hermitage is a 4.60 km circular route, takes approximately one hour, and has a low difficulty level. It leads to the hermitage, its clear spring and through the surrounding landscape. The circular route from the ruins of Aduana to the Punta del Moral viewpoint and back is 8.00 km long, takes approximately two hours, and has a medium difficulty level; it also passes an old lime kiln.

The La Solana trail is a 5.00 km circular route from María, takes approximately 45 minutes, has a low difficulty level, and is designated for the whole year. The range from short circular routes to the several-hour crossing provides you with a clear structure by duration, trail type and difficulty level, without equating the different landscape and cultural experiences.

Culture and History

The Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza hermitage is one of the hermitages in María that were built from the late 16th century through the first decades of the 17th century. The Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church in María dates from the 16th century, has a single-nave layout and Mudejar decoration. The Casa de la Tercia dates from the 18th century.

The Fiestas de la Virgen de la Cabeza in María include a procession on the Saturday before the last Sunday in April. During it, the image is carried from the sanctuary to the parish church. On 15 August, a romería takes place in honour of the Virgen de la Cabeza at her sanctuary, attended by the people of María and large parts of the Los Vélez comarca.

The image of the Virgen de la Cabeza returns to its hermitage on the first Sunday in June. The route to the hermitage and the associated festival days are therefore part of a calendar covering different dates in spring, early summer and summer.

Other Places

Santa María del Águila, Guazamara, Fernán Pérez, El Saltador Bajo, El Contador, El Hijate, Cuevas Del Almanzora and Laroya

Food and Local Traditions

Traditional dishes from María include Migas, Gachas, Ajo colorao, Ajo cabañi, Masa ralla, Gurullos and Tortas gachas con liebre. Traditional Christmas sweets include Alfajor, almond mantecados, Carrasca mantecados and Rollos de Pascua.

Tortas fritas are traditionally prepared in María during Carnival from flour and yeast, fried in plenty of oil and eaten hot with chocolate. Hornazos are traditionally eaten during the ascent of the Virgen de la Cabeza from María to her hermitage in early June.

Traditional building methods are also connected with food storage: houses in María have openings to chambers and storage rooms suitable for drying cured meats and other foodstuffs.

For the overarching travel overview: Almeria.