Discover Serón: Vía Verde, Mining History and Culture

A disused railway line dating from 1894 runs through the municipality of Serón. The Vía Verde del Hierro has now been developed as a non-motorised route for walking or cycling; it is 11.8 kilometres long and has only gentle inclines.

More local pages: Costacabana, Turre, Marchena, Fiñana, El Saltador Bajo, Fernán Pérez, Purchena, El Campillo De Rodalquilar

Routes and Mining History

The Sendero Local Las Menas is a circular route through the Las Menas mining settlement, passing the area's most distinctive points. The Sendero panorámico de Serón leads to the Balsa de la Alconaiza and onwards to a viewpoint in the Alconaiza area, established on a former threshing floor with an information board.

The old railway facilities of the Vía Verde del Hierro include, among others, the station building, locomotive shed and warehouse with loading ramp. These facilities have been renovated for complementary uses such as a restaurant, exhibition and concert hall, and museum. The different route options can be compared when planning a day trip according to route type, destination and the route characteristics mentioned above.

Las Menas is a mining settlement with architecturally distinguished buildings, including the Ermita de Santa Bárbara, a hospital, offices, a workers' pavilion, workshops, and several houses for senior staff and technicians.

Culture and Historic Buildings

The Castillo de Serón was built in the 13th century in the province of Almería and served a defensive function during the Nasrid period. The Castillo de Serón offers panoramic views of the Almanzora Valley and the Sierra de las Estancias.

The Iglesia de la Anunciación is a 17th-century building that was declared a national historic-artistic monument in 1983. Its central nave has a Lima-Bordón roof framework with motifs of eight-pointed stars and square interlacing.

The Ermita de los Remedios is a neoclassical building from the 19th century with a rectangular floor plan and a single nave. Its main chapel houses the image of the Virgen de los Remedios. Calle Real is the main street surrounding the historic centre.

Starry Skies and Landscape

The Planetario de Serón offers live educational events on astronomy, geoscience, the history of astronomy and cultural astronomy. It also offers observations of the night sky with telescopes and binoculars, during which constellations, planets, the Moon, if visible, and deep-sky objects are viewed.

El Aljibe is a natural hot-water spring near the settlement of Fuencaliente. The viewpoint at the Ermita Virgen de la Cabeza offers views from its location across the Vega of Serón, which occupies the river deposits of the Almanzora Valley.

Local Traditions

The Feria del Jamón has taken place since 1995 on the first weekend of July. It includes a national ham-carving competition and public tastings of the freshly sliced products.

Jamón de Serón has a protected geographical indication. The meat-products industry has been developing in Serón since the 18th century.

To the main travel overview: Almeria.