With a rich history and cultural heritage that spans centuries, the municipality of Albox, in the province of Almeria, is a hidden gem on the Iberian Peninsula. Among the many sacred sites to be found in this town are the Church of Santa María, the viewpoint and hermitage of Santa Cruz, the Parish Church of La Concepción, the Cross of the Sacred Heart and viewpoint of San Antonio, the hermitage of San Antonio, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen in the Llano de los Olleres and the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Saliente.

 

1. Sacred Heart Cross

The first place to visit in Albox is the Cross of the Sacred Heart and the viewpoint of San Antonio. Situated on top of a hill, the 9 metre high cross is located within the San Antonio viewpoint and offers stunning views of the municipality, including the mountains of the Sierra de las Estancias and Sierra de los Filabres. You can enjoy a nice walk through the neighbourhood of San Antonio until you reach this point where you can contemplate the beautiful scenery.

 

2. Hermitage of San Antonio

Very close to the Cross of the Sacred Heart is the Hermitage of San Antonio located in the Barrio de San Antonio or Barrio Alto of Albox, one of the oldest and most picturesque of the town. In fact, this hermitage is the oldest religious building in the municipality. This temple stands on the site of an old Moorish mosque and preserves inside some popular paintings of great symbolic value depicting biblical scenes and religious images.

 

3. Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen

Another sacred place in Albox is the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen located in the hamlet of Llano de los Olleres, built in the 19th century in the Andalusian Baroque style. The church has an impressive white façade and is located 5 km from the town of Albox. During the terrible cholera epidemic of 1864, the residents of the Llano de los Olleres neighbourhood made a promise to the Virgen del Carmen to build a sanctuary if the epidemic would cease. Inside the sanctuary is the Virgen del Carmen and San José Labrador.

 

4. Church of Santa María

The Church of Santa Maria, on the other hand, is an impressive church built in the 18th century in baroque style. The church has a beautiful and impressive dome. Its location in the main square of the village, surrounded by palm trees, makes it a perfect place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity.

 

5. Hermitage of the Holy Cross

El Mirador y la Ermita de la Santa Cruz is located in a high area of the town and offers a panoramic view of the town, as well as the Sierra de las Estancias and Sierra de los Filabres. It is also an ideal place to take photos of the town and its surroundings.

 

6. Parish of La Concepción

The Parroquia de la Concepción is a newly built church located on the site of the former 18th century church. The church is the religious centre of the Albox neighbourhood known as “La Loma” and is also used for the most important religious ceremonies.

 

7. Sanctuary of the Virgen del Saliente

Finally, the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Saliente is a very important sacred place for the inhabitants of Albox and visitors to the region. It is believed that the image of the Virgin was made by “Los Roldanes” in the 18th century, important sculptors of the time. The building built in 1716 receives every year pilgrims who flock to the sanctuary to pay homage to the Virgin and ask for her protection.

In short, Albox has a wealth of treasures, tourist, religious and historical sites that you cannot miss if you visit the Almanzora Valley. Each of the places that have been mentioned in this article is a jewel that deserves to be visited and admired. Do not hesitate to include them in your travel itinerary.

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