Ventorros de San José – Archaeology, Trails and Regional Cuisine

Ventorros de San José brings together archaeological traces, traditional routes and regional production. The Sierra Martilla stands out in particular, where the landscape and evidence from several eras meet.

Landscape

The Sierra Martilla lies on an extensive plateau of bioclastic calcareous sandstone at an altitude of 800 metres. The Encina de Ventorros de San José is regarded as an exceptional specimen because of its height and very broad, circular crown.

Culture

The Sierra Martilla is designated as immovable cultural heritage of Andalusia and has been archaeologically characterised. It preserves Roman materials, Visigothic burials and an Arab watchtower.

Cerro Gordo is a rocky massif with former quarries. These quarries once provided work for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. Cortijo Cevico (Ventorros de San José-Loja, Granada) is described as the first marble quarry recorded in this region for producing blanks for bangles.

Ventorros de San José was once a venta where carters spent the night and looked after their animals. The settlement was located at a crossroads along which all kinds of goods were transported. The Fiestas de Ventorros de San José are recorded for 19 March.

Trails and Pilgrimage Tradition

The hiking route to the Sierra Martilla archaeological site begins in Ventorros de San José and leads there via dirt and asphalt roads. It is 12.03 kilometres long and classified as easy. From Ventorros de San José, the archaeological site can also be reached via the Camino de las Rozuelas and is approximately 4.5 kilometres away.

A demand-responsive bus service on weekdays connects Ventorros de San José with Zagra, Fuentes de Cesna and Loja. The traditional pilgrimage from Ventorros de San José to Iznájar, described as a centuries-old pilgrimage, is 19 kilometres long and has a moderate technical difficulty level. The first written evidence of the traditional pilgrimage route from Ventorros de San José to the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Piedad in Iznájar dates from 1600.

The two route descriptions emphasise different aspects: access to the Sierra Martilla connects the settlement with a route classified as easy and varying surfaces, while the pilgrimage to Iznájar combines its traditional heritage with a longer distance and moderate technical difficulty. This allows nature, cultural and pilgrimage themes to be considered separately.

Cuisine

The Cerro Gordo cooperative offers guided tours of its facilities. At the Feria de la Tapa de Ventorros de San José, the event reached its 11th edition; six food establishments in the town offered small-format dishes.

For your daily itinerary, guided tours, small-format dishes and green asparagus can be considered as separate focal points alongside one another.

Los Gallombares is a cooperative in the Loja area that produces, processes and markets green asparagus and offers it throughout the year.

For the overarching travel overview: Zagra.