Olula Del Río – Churches, Museums and Festivals in Andalusia

In Olula Del Río stands the Iglesia Nueva, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. It was built in the 1960s and inaugurated and blessed on 14 July 1968. The Iglesia Vieja is the Church of San Sebastián and was built between 1780 and 1789. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in the province and has a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross.

Other destinations: Lubrín, Los Navarros, Los Escullos, La Breña, Oria, Bayárcal, Las Hortichuelas and El Campillo De Rodalquilar.

Culture

The remains of a medieval fortress and a medieval cistern can be found on the Cerro de la Piedra Ver. There is also evidence of a Bronze Age settlement at Piedra Ver de Olula, which probably stood on the western slope of the hill. A sculpture by the artist Antonio López, approximately eight metres high, adds to the Ciudad de la Cultura de Olula.

The Museo Casa Ibáñez houses more than 1,200 inventoried works. It presents modern and contemporary Spanish art from Goya to the present day, with a particular focus on the Spanish figurative tradition. The Centro Pérez Siquier is the first museum in Spain dedicated to one of the country’s classic photographers. Works by Pérez Siquier are displayed there in five galleries, and the holdings of his archive are also being systematically digitised.

El Cañico is a peri-urban spring, just a few metres from the Almanzora River. On the night of San Juan, local residents maintain the tradition of washing their faces at the spring. The Ermita del Cristo de la Buena Muerte stands at the foot of Cerro Almirez in the Sierra de los Filabres.

Trails

The PR-A 328 Las Arrodeas–El Pinatar is an officially designated hiking trail in Olula del Río. The SL-A 170 route leads through the quarries and identifies the Museo Casa Ibáñez and the Centro Pérez Siquier as nearby attractions in the area around Olula del Río.

The SL-A 170 is a 4.51-kilometre hike of moderate difficulty, taking approximately 67 minutes. The Olula del Río section of the Vía Verde del Almanzora has a paved surface and is 1.6 kilometres long. It can be used on foot, by mountain bike and in a wheelchair. The different lengths, the stated duration and the various ways of using the routes provide different points of reference for planning the day.

Festivals

The Fiestas de San Sebastián y San Ildefonso, Roscos y Carretillas take place annually in Olula del Río. The celebration is officially recognised as a local religious, cultural and traditional festival; at the same time, it is recognised as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia.

On the night of the Carretillas, thousands of Carretillas are set off in Olula del Río. During this, the image of San Ildefonso is carried through the town, while specially protected participants fire the fireworks.

The Romería del Cristo de la Buena Muerte takes place on the second Sunday in May and includes decorated floats, groomed horses and live music. Its image is normally carried exclusively by a group of women.

For the overarching travel overview: Almeria.