Tourism Armuña de Almanzora – Almería

Located 72 kilometers from the provincial capital, it is accessed via the A-334, which runs right next to its urban center. The Parish Church (16th century) houses a magnificent Cordoban monstrance from the early 17th century. The old Castle is a must-see for history lovers. Belonging to the Duchy of Escalona, it once had four towers, a parade ground, a gunpowder magazine, a courtyard with elegant marble columns, barracks, and a ducal residence. The entire structure is built with the typical local stone. Traditional festivals include San Antón (January 17), featuring delicious migas, San Marcos (April 25), and the Patron Saint Festivities in honor of the Virgen del Rosario, held on the first weekend of August.

Regarding the first settlements in the area, some archaeological sites have been discovered that demonstrate the presence of Roman culture in these lands. Later, in medieval times, the Arabic name given to this municipality refers to its fertile farmland, a reality that is still evident today. A noteworthy historical fact is that in the 16th century, this town had 120 houses, although in the Middle Ages it must have had fewer, as it was not yet the seat of a lordship. There are references confirming that around 1560, this town belonged to the Duke of Escalona.

In the past, Armuña had a bread oven, an inn, a tavern and a blacksmith’s shop in the square, as well as three flour mills and one oil mill. Outside the town walls, not far from the cemetery, there was a castle with a large parade ground, four towers, a gunpowder store, a courtyard with marble columns from the Sierra de los Filabres and a beautiful room where the mayors, administrators and clerks lived. It also had dungeons, prisons and silos for storing grain.

The entire construction was made of stone typical of the area, but it is now completely in ruins.

The land was irrigated by the Almanzora River, which had abundant water in winter and enough in summer to irrigate its fertile plain. There was also a plentiful spring, called Paules, which served as a boundary marker for the jurisdiction of this town as well as that of Purchena. Traditionally, the area produced cereals, legumes, beetroot, grapes and oil, as it had numerous olive groves.

Studying such an important period in our history as the Civil War is difficult because the archives containing all the existing documentation were burned. Currently, to consult part of our history, one must go to the Royal Chancery of Granada.

It seems that during the Modern Age, Armuña belonged to the Count of Santisteban and the Marquis of Ariza, although there is hardly any memory of this period in the village. 

In this municipality, as in the rest of the Alto Almanzora region, typical dishes include migas de harina (breadcrumbs) or migas de pan (breadcrumbs), accompanied by paprika broth, peppers and fried sun-dried tomatoes, fish and tajadas (fried potato slices), all washed down with a good local wine.

Stews and casseroles are also popular, cooked in different ways: with wheat, pumpkin and fennel. In summer, gazpachos and salads with seasonal vegetables grown by the locals in their gardens. Rabbit fritters and porridge with broth are also typical dishes.

Throughout the year, sausages such as black pudding, chorizo, longaniza, blanquillo and other pork products are enjoyed. These are made before Christmas during the famous matanzas (slaughtering of pigs), although they are not made as much anymore. However, it is a ritual in which family and friends usually gather to spend a few days of celebration and work in a tradition that is difficult to lose. Typical pastries include tortas de chicharrones y manteca (pork rind and lard cakes), pan de aceite (olive oil bread), suspiros (meringues) and mantecados (shortbread), and of course hornazos, which are olive oil buns with an egg inside, made for St. Mark’s Day on 25 April.