Replica of the Fountain of the Lions of the Alhambra in Granada.
360º Photo
In the capital of white gold, where the “Mármol Blanco de Macael” is extracted, you can take a guided tour in the Marble Interpretation Centre to learn how marble from this land is present all over the world, in Roman and Arab monuments such as the Roman Theatre in Mérida or the Alhambra in Granada and also in majestic modern buildings such as the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.
During your visit you will be able to see at the Mirador de Cosentino how work is done in the largest quarry in this mountain range. A walk through the village to see the world’s largest mortar and the replica of the Alhambra’s Fountain of the Lions or a visit to the handicraft workshops is also a good option.
In April the historical re-enactment of the “Canteros y Caciques en lucha por el Mármol” (quarrymen and chiefs fighting for marble) is held with great success. The last edition received more than 10,000 visitors. In October the Subida del Mármol Rally has been held for the last 42 years, an automobile race considered a classic in the Andalusian calendar.
If you visit this town and want to know what to see and do in it, we have selected on this page a series of suggestions to make your stay easier and more interesting.
We hope you enjoy it.
FREE PLANS
30 WONDERS OF THE ALMANZORA (Macael)
DAY TRIPS
Land of White Gold in Macael
You can visit the Marble Interpretation Centre, a tour of the village of Macael, a visit to the quarry and finally lunch in one of its restaurants.
See excursionMacael, the town with the largest mortar in the world
Macael is a town located in the province of Almería. It is known for being the place where the largest mortar in the world is located, this mortar is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest mortar in the world and has been made with the characteristic marbles of this town.
See excursionWEEKEND GETAWAYS
Marble Getaway Macael and Ibañez Museum
Discover the land of Marble, visit the Macael Quarries, the Marble Interpretation Centre, the Casa Ibáñez Museum and the Pérez Siquier Photography Centre.
See the getawayCAR ROUTES
Marble Route
From Macael, producer of the famous white gold of the Almanzora, we can follow a route that climbs up the slopes of the Filabres, to the small village of Laroya. Returning through Macael, we continue our journey along the Tabernas-Olula del Río road.
See routeCraftsmen’s Route
Fines, Olula del Río and Macael form a triangle where the main factories and workshops of marble craftsmanship are concentrated. Fireplaces, sculptures, objects such as chess, desktop, decoration, among others, are elaborated.
See routeMTB ROUTES
MTB TransAlmeria Laroya-Macael
It starts in El Reul Alto, in the village of Laroya, where we start climbing to reach the 1,500 m altitude in approximately 6 km, from there we will go down to the vicinity of the Almanzora river.
See MTB routeCalar Alto, La Merendera Mountain Bike Route (Macael, Laroya, Bacares – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 7 hours 25 minutes
- Distance: 97,14 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route Mirador Virgen de la Cabeza de Serón – (Olula del Rio, Macael, Purchena, Serón – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 3 hours 3 minutes
- Distance: 49,97 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route Macael-El Aljibe (Serón, Purchena, Olula del Rio, Macael – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 6 hours
- Distance: 70,03 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route Sierra las Estancias – (Macael, Urracal, Purchena, Olula del Rio – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 4 hours 21 minutes
- Distance: 52,24 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route VGD – (Macael, Olula del Rio, Cantoria – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 4 hours 54 minutes
- Distance: 56,69 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route las tres Torres (Partaloa, Macael, Olula del Rio – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 3 hours 48 minutes
- Distance: 56,07 km
- Route: Circular
MTB Route la Frita (Macael, Laroya, Olula del Rio, Sierro – Almeria)
- Technical difficulty: Moderate
- Time: 4 hours
- Distance: 43,3 km
- Route: Circular
WALKING ROUTES
TRAILS
WHAT TO SEE IN MACAEL
ACTIVITIES FOR HIRE
EXPERIENCES
Marble Land Experience
Live the experience of discovering the Land of Marble. You will be able to visit the Marble Interpretation Centre, the most typical and emblematic places, the sculpture and craft workshop, the quarries and the marble path.
See experienceGUIDED VISITS
Guided visit to the Marble Interpretation Centre
The Marble Interpretation Centre is conceived as a cultural space where history, tradition, innovation and future coexist harmoniously to offer an insight into the culture of marble in Macael. You must book this visit.
See visitGuided tour of the Quarries and Viewpoint of Cosentino
This visit needs to be booked. The quarries of Macael occupy more than 6.600 hectares. Inside the quarries we will visit the viewpoint of Cosentino from where we will observe and explain the modern extraction process.
See visitGuided visit to a Marble Craft Workshop.
Macael and the region of Almanzora declared by the Junta de Andalucía as a “Zone of Artisan Interest”. In this visit the different processes of transformation and elaboration of marble will be explained, and you will observe how a master craftsman works.
See visitWHERE TO EAT
Grilled meats, daily tapas, daily menus and traditional food. Wheat stew, crumbs, etc.
Enjoy good cuisine, quality and good service at Restaurante Los Membrives. Tapas, rations, daily dishes, letter, … Celebrate with us weddings, communions, baptisms …
Do not miss a tapas restaurant in the pools, we have a variety of tapas and beers, dishes to share and finger-licking rations, what are you waiting to come, find out for yourself, do not tell! In the restaurant the Pools we do all kinds of celebrations, weddings, baptisms, communions, company dinners, family meals, etc.
SOME DISHES FROM OUR TERRACES, FROM THE SEA AND FROM THE LAND Fried Sufli, Balfego Bluefin Tuna, Cod Tiradito, Micuit Foie Ingot, Cod Cocochas Casserole, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms, Iberian Sausages Table, etc. GRILLED Friesian Cow Steak, Veal Entrail with Chimichurri, … OUR SUGGESTIONS S/M Fish Market, Oxtail Stew, Stone-grilled Meat, etc. OUR SPECIALTIES (Minimum for 2 people) Seafood Paella, Black Rice, Grilled Iberian Feather Rice and Mixed Paella TO END Cheesecake With fresh berries, Our Version of Rice Pudding, Ginger Crumble, Our Selection of Cheeses and Chocolate with Cookies RESERVATIONS: 722 866 316 OPEN from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. Centro Tecnologico de la Piedra, Macael, Almeria
Gastronomic experience with the seal of chef Carlos Javier Moma. A project focused on reinterpreting the most traditional Spanish cuisine from haute cuisine.
Bar La Plaza We have Grilled Meat, Homemade Pizzas in wood oven, specialty in Patatas Bravas and all type of Homemade Meals like Puchero Wheat, Porcini, Fabada, Migas. Wide range of Fish and Seafood, Cuttlefish, Squid, Quiquilla, Grouper, Tuna, Cockles, …. Every Sunday, Rice with Beans, Assorted Brochettes, Homemade Pisto, Homemade Pisto, Cherigans, Smoked Toast. This Christmas, you taste our homemade Anis and Mantecados Roscos, a wide assortment of Desserts, Carrilera Roasts on request, etc …