Vélez de Benaudalla: Jardín Nazarí, Trails and Culture

Vélez de Benaudalla: As a historic garden, the Jardín Nazarí is catalogued among the cultural assets of cultural interest by the Junta de Andalucía. It comprises a residence arranged around a central courtyard and a garden with three orchards. An irrigation channel from the Paseo del Nacimiento runs through the Jardín Nazarí and supplies its orchards and mill.

Culture

The Castillo de los Ulloa opened to the public in 2003 as the Vélez de Benaudalla Heritage Interpretation Centre and features a permanent exhibition. As a military facility, it was rebuilt in the 16th century; its layout is an irregular heptagon. The church is an 18th-century neoclassical church designed by Ventura Rodríguez and completed in 1778. The main feast day of the Fiestas de San Antonio de Padua is 13 June; the celebrations include a performance of Moros y Cristianos. The leaves of the palmetto plant were traditionally used in Vélez de Benaudalla to make brooms.

Trails and Landscape

The Ruta Las Torcas is a 5-kilometre circular trail with a low difficulty level and can be completed year-round. The Ruta la Haza del Señor, also known as the Sendero de las Minas, is a 20-kilometre linear route with a high difficulty level and can also be completed year-round. The Ruta de los Molinos is considered a walk of approximately two and a half hours and leads to the Molino de Abarca. The associated cortijo is considered restored; it was formerly equipped with a bread oven.

The Ruta del Nacimiento passes the Lavadero del Alambique and the Nacimiento spring before following the irrigation channel. The Ruta la Explanación-Río Guadalfeo leads to the Explanación, also known as Playa de Vélez, which is considered a recreational area for swimming and families. The Ruta del Barrio Árabe is a walk through the narrow, whitewashed streets and small squares of Vélez de Benaudalla. The different formats—circular trail, linear route and walk—can be classified separately based on the stated length, difficulty or duration.

Nature

The route to the Fuente del Algarrobo leads after approximately 2 kilometres to the Barranco del Algarrobo on the western side of the Sierra de Lújar. The municipal route to the Fuente del Algarrobo reaches the spring via an uphill path after crossing a national road. Speleology is practised in the Tajo de los Vados area, including at the Sima Redonda and in the Cueva del Barranco de Iñate.

When comparing holiday apartments in Vélez de Benaudalla, travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies can be viewed side by side on the respective offer pages.

Further places: Cortes De Baza, Bérchules, Tózar, Baúl, Ítrabo, Cádiar, Jayena, Illora

Getting There

The A-44 motorway runs above Vélez de Benaudalla and has two exits to the town.

To the main travel overview: Granada.