The beauty of Cantoria stands out for the tradition and culture that it continues to maintain until today; its music, patron saint festivals and the archaeological and architectural variety it possesses make it an enriching town full of life. The warmth and simplicity of its inhabitants will make you enjoy this experience to the fullest and learn first-hand the stories of each corner.

Here are 3 reasons to get to know Cantoria by visiting three key points in the municipality: the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the Hermitage of San Cayetano and San Antón and the Railway Station. To make the first tour, the ideal is to leave the car parked at the entrance of the town, next to the doctor’s office, it is a good parking area and you can quickly connect with the main avenue of the town. You will continue until you reach the intersection of the town hall square and the busiest bar area; there you can stop for breakfast on the terrace of the D’Dulce pastry shop and contemplate part of the parish.

PARISH CHURCH OF NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CARMEN

The current church was built during the 19th century on top of an old renaissance church, however; What stands out the most about it is its interior, since it gives the sensation of being inside a cathedral and not a church. Some of the paintings that it preserves come from the Prado Museum.

HERMITAGE OF SAN CAYETANO AND SAN ANTON

To continue on our journey towards the Hermitage of San Cayetano and San Antón we will have to return to the town hall square and go up the street that we are in front of, the walk can take about 15 minutes up a slope that will take us to the top of the town. As you ascend, you will see the small houses that are found between alleys and in the highest areas of the town. When you get to the last stairs you will find yourself facing the Hermitage, a small baroque-style temple built in the 18th century, in honor of San Idelfonso, where you can find the carvings of the city’s patron saints and one of the best views of the entire village; you will be able to appreciate all its beauty and its surroundings.

FORMER RAILWAY STATION

In January 1894, the railway station in the town of Cantoria was opened. The building, constructed of masonry, was one of the structures designed and built by the British company The Great Southern of Spain Railway Company Limited (GSSR) to serve the railway line that linked the provinces of Granada, Almería and Murcia for a century (between 1885 and 1985). This historic link boosted the trade in minerals and marble, as well as passenger transport in the south-east of the peninsula.

The original complex included a building for passengers and facilities, a warehouse with a loading bay and a water tank. It also had two platforms, one situated behind the main building and the other in front of it. The second platform was usually used for regular train stops, whilst the first likely served as a siding for carriages and goods.

In 1985, rail services were suspended on the section between Guadix and Almendricos, in Lorca (Murcia), for economic reasons. However, the Guadix–Granada and Almendricos–Murcia sections, including the branch line to Águilas, remain in operation. This decision had a negative impact on trade and communications in the Almanzora Valley, cutting off the eastern region from the south of the country and leaving a significant piece of infrastructure in disuse.

Time took its toll on the railway complex, so the local council undertook a restoration project for these iconic buildings. Currently, most of the buildings have been restored, with the exception of the platform, which has disappeared and been replaced by modern structures. The warehouse remains in good condition, although the water supply tank has been removed, leaving an empty space in the structure where it once stood, between the door and the top of the tank.

Today, the complex of buildings forms part of the municipal facilities, housing the Andalusian Employment Service, the headquarters of the Almanzora Development Group, the Cantoria Local Police, the Magistrates’ Court and the Women’s Centre.

So… are you up for the experience?

 

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