Discover Colomera – Castle, Trails and Pilgrimage

A prominent starting point for exploring Colomera’s history is the Castillo de Colomera: the chronicler Ibn Hayyan already mentioned it in the 10th century as a foundation of the Cordoban army.

Culture and History

The Arab fortress probably consisted of three areas: an alcazaba, an intermediate section and an outer fortified area. From its elevated position, which served to defend the area, the Castillo overlooks the town and the surrounding valley. Colomera is also a stop on the Ruta del Califato.

The Iglesia Parroquial de la Encarnación was built in the 16th century over an earlier mosque and combines Gothic and Mudéjar elements. It has three naves and a Mudéjar wooden roof structure, which was painted by Miguel de Quintana in 1544. On 22 February 1980, it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural.

The Puente Romano is a single-arch bridge from the Roman-Medieval period, measuring 16 metres in length, with a maximum height of 7 metres and a roadway width of 3.80 metres; its tympana and abutments are made of ashlar, and remains of old roads can be found in its surroundings.

The Arab watchtower Torre del Chopo is cylindrical, has a circular floor plan and a surviving height of 6 metres. The Torre del Chopo is considered a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Necrópolis visigoda is a Visigothic burial site with 47 graves, recorded in 1986, which contained only a few grave goods, including ceramic vessels, rings, earrings and copper or iron jewellery.

Landscape and Views

The Torre Atalaya de Colomera stands on a small hill at an altitude of more than 1,000 metres; it overlooks the Río Colomera valley and the present-day town. The Puerto de los Lobos Harteros is the highest point on the Ruta de Colomera and offers panoramic views of the Embalse de Colomera reservoir and the town.

The Área recreativa Los Pinos recreational area offers views of the surrounding Sierras and lies on the route to El Pino Solitario. The Área recreativa El Puntalillo recreational area is located in the natural landscape of the same name and offers views of the surrounding Sierras.

Trails and Pilgrimage

The Ruta de Colomera starts and ends in Colomera, is classified as moderately difficult and covers 17.2 kilometres, with a stated duration of approximately five hours. The Ruta de las Fuentes is an easy 1.8-kilometre walk connecting the Pilar de la Higuera, the Pilarillo, the Pilar Leones, the former public washhouse Las Fuentes and the Fuente Cristino. For your own planning, you can compare the length, duration and difficulty rating of the two trails directly.

The Romería de la Virgen de la Cabeza starts in Colomera on the Thursday before the last Sunday in April and passes through villages, valleys and rivers to the Cerro del Cabezo de Andújar. It has taken place every year since 1227 and is considered Spain’s oldest pilgrimage.

Further destinations: Orce, Montejícar, Alcudia De Guadix, Lopera, Arenas Del Rey, Juviles, Puerto Lope, La Taha

To the higher-level travel overview: Granada.