Ugíjar – Culture, Landscape and Festivals in the Alpujarra

With the Convento Franciscano de San Juan Bautista, Ugíjar preserves the only surviving example of conventual architecture in the Granada Alpujarra. The effective foundation of the Convento Franciscano de San Juan Bautista de Ugíjar took place on 5 September 1646.

For a holiday apartment in Ugíjar, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions can be viewed separately on the respective offer pages. The length of stay can be adapted to your own plans; the convent, festivals, ethnographic themes and the Sendero SL-A 205 are available as separate points of focus.

Culture

The Centro de Patrimonio Cultural de La Alpujarra presents an ethnographic collection with items from beekeeping, carpentry, metalworking, textiles, basketry, pottery, agriculture, viticulture and livestock farming.

The Centro de Interpretación de La Alpujarra covers the geography and history of the Alpujarra, as well as its cultural and ethnographic heritage.

The Iglesia Ntra. Señora del Martirio is, alongside the church in Pitres, one of the few surviving churches in La Alpujarra with a Gothic-Mudejar structure.

Landscape

The Sendero SL-A 205 Ugíjar–Cuesta Viñas crosses the Río Ugíjar and climbs through the Barranco del Diablo in the Terrera de la Cará; the Cueva de la Muela can be seen there.

On the same Sendero SL-A 205 Ugíjar–Cuesta Viñas, the path leads to Cuesta Viñas, an area with mineral medicinal waters.

From Ugíjar, the artificial Cuevas-Silos de la Cará can be seen; they are located about 200 metres from the town.

History

The medieval Cuevas-Silos de la Cará were used by Moriscos during the Alpujarras War of 1568 for defence, as a hiding place and for provisions.

Geographical Setting

Ugíjar lies at the heart of the comarca, where the routes of the Sierra meet those of the Alpujarra Baja and the coast.

Other Places

Other destinations in the town overview include Lanteira, Gójar, Ferreira, Durcal, El Ventorrillo, Hernán-Valle, Jayena and Gor.

Traditions

ExpoAlpujarra takes place every year during the extended Inmaculada weekend in December and presents tourism, crafts and traditional products from the Alpujarra.

The traditional Fiesta de la Parva on the threshing floors of Cerro de Ugíjar includes bringing in barley and wheat, threshing and winnowing, as well as traditional music and homemade tapas.

The Feria y Fiestas Virgen del Martirio in Ugíjar has been celebrated since 1606 as an annual festival in honour of the Virgen del Martirio.

Bodega Dominio Buenavista offers visits year-round for at least 15 people by prior reservation.

Event dates and the minimum number of participants for the visit are organisational details, while museums, churches and historical sites offer different ways of experiencing Ugíjar. The Sendero connects the river, ravine, Terrera and Cuesta Viñas; its stations form a distinct landscape focus alongside the cultural and festival themes.

For the higher-level travel overview: Granada.