Discover Almedinilla: Holiday apartment between culture and hiking trails

The Roman Villa “El Ruedo” is designated an Asset of Cultural Interest and dates from the 1st to the 7th century AD. It features one of the most complete surviving floor plans of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula. The villa’s rooms have hosted works by invited artists to explain and reflect on the archaeological site through contemporary art.

Culture

The Historical-Archaeological Museum covers 1,200 m² divided among four rooms. The museum area “Sala del Aceite y del Olivo” explains the various historical uses of oil and preserves original machinery from an old olive oil mill dating from the early 20th century.

The present-day Church of San Juan Bautista was built in 1978; only the masonry remains of the earlier church built in 1769. Inside are a life-size anonymous crucifix from the 17th century featuring Sevillian stylistic characteristics from the mid-17th century, as well as a polychrome carved wooden sculpture of Saint John the Baptist from the workshop of Alonso de Mena, dating from around 1630.

The Iberian settlement “El Cerro de La Cruz” is designated an Asset of Cultural Interest and is one of the few excavated settlements from the Late Iberian period, dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, in Andalusia. The clock tower of Almedinilla was built in 1934 during the Second Republic.

Trails and landscape

The Salto del Caballo hiking trail is 1.5 km long, takes approximately 45 minutes and is classified as easy. The trail runs parallel to the Caicena River and leads to the Salto del Caballo waterfall.

The Arroyo Granada hiking trail starts in the Fuente Ribera landscape area, is 12 km long, takes approximately three hours and is classified as moderate. It passes traditional olive groves near Fuente Grande and ends in the hamlet of Venta Valero, which borders the provinces of Granada and Jaén.

The Fuente Ribera landscape area includes historic public washing places and a water-powered grain mill that also contributed to generating electricity in the 1920s. The Peña del Pingorote rock offers panoramic views over Almedinilla. The different lengths and approximate durations of the two trails give you a clear basis for comparison when planning your day.

Festivals and theatre

The Festum includes visits to archaeological sites with theatrical performances depicting historical reconstructions. The Festum’s “Calle Romana” portrays the daily life of Roman women and men and includes stalls with craft reproductions, Roman houses, rituals and a Roman tavern.

Since 2016, Almedinilla has held the “Villa de los Sueños” youth festival of Greco-Roman theatre every April, with groups from all over Andalusia taking part. The festival introduces secondary-school students to classical Greek and Latin theatrical texts.

An amateur theatre festival takes place in Almedinilla between March and April. On the night of 23 June, the night of “La Encantá” is celebrated as part of the San Juan festivities. It includes a procession through the town, four stops featuring performances representing the natural elements of earth, water, wind and fire, as well as a historical re-enactment on the Caicena River.

Experiences

The “Convivium – The Delights of the Roman Table” experience includes Roman rituals such as perfume ceremonies, hand-washing and crowning, as well as Roman pantomime. It offers lunch or dinner featuring recipes from the “Reconquinaria” by Marco Gavio Apicius from the 1st century and usually takes place on Saturdays and Sundays.

As part of the Roman mosaic workshop, each participant can create their own mosaic using plaster pieces based on a template. On certain days in late December and early January, the Palacio Real de Los Reyes Magos offers a family tour through the palace rooms with characters and a storyline centred around magical keys.

More destinations

Other destinations include Encinas Reales, Zuheros, Villaharta, Fernán-Núñez, Ribera Baja, El Viso, El Villar and Palenciana.

Back to the main travel overview: Cordoba.