What to do in Macael – Almeria

♦♦♦ High Tourist Interest. Macael is inextricably linked to the word Marble. The quarries very close to the urban area have been exploited since ancient times, constituting the most important exploitation nucleus of ornamental rocks of the national territory. Marble is a metamorphic rock that comes from a sedimentary rock, limestone, which suffers physical changes in its internal structure due to the action of pressure and temperature. Its quality and possibility of natural shine when polished has turned it into an excellent ornamental rock. In addition, its hardness allows its use as a structural element. During the Recent Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, the populations of the Almanzora Valley took advantage of the white marble stones that dragged the water courses to elaborate small schematic figures called “cruciform idols” or “Almerian idols” that they deposited in the collective tombs. In ancient archaeological research they were considered one of the characteristic elements of the “Culture of Almeria”. With the Romans began to exploit the quarries of Macael on a larger scale, but it is in the Muslim era when there is greater continuity in extraction. With the Christian repopulation of Macael, the activity of the marble sector re-emerged. Macael’s “Libro de Apeo” […]

The Plaza de Almería has been transformed into the imposing monumental complex ‘Marmoris’, Latin for marble, which pays homage to the use of white marble in the municipality in Roman times. The square has reproductions in Macael marble of the front colonnade of a temple, a pool, the peristyle of a Roman house, an ornamental fountain, a replica of the mosaic of the planetarium of Italica in Seville and two sculptures, a ‘Chirivello’ for the pool and an imposing sculpture of Neptune for the fountain. More than 400 tons of marble. That is the amount of white marble from Macael used in the remodelling of the Plaza de Almería. The monumental complex ‘Marmoris’ is made up of different elements. The visitor is welcomed by a portico of imposing dimensions made up of 6 Corinthian style columns of almost 8 metres in height with their capitals. At this point is where you can read, in Latin, a legend that says “Plaza de Almería: honour, pride and heritage of our people”, and another one in which the people of Macael thank Cosentino for their involvement in the project for having donated all the marble that has been used in the square (more […]

In 1609 was inaugurated the Parish Church Santa Maria of the Rosary, in Mudéjar style. The then Bishop of Almeria, D. Fray Juan de Portocarrero, ordered the construction of this tower and the episcopal shield. The tower, of majestic aspect and in good condition of conservation, is crowned by the bell tower. To the exterior it presents a cover to four waters with Arab tile and to the interior a wood paneling in the first and second body. Its decoration is made of alternating bricks with masonry drawers, semicircular arches and geometric drawings accused by the brick out of its walls. From its origins to our days the church has undergone numerous modifications in its structure, so the interior space is diaphanous and wide, presenting a single nave, drawing attention to its side facades, unusual in the churches of the region and this is due to The last restoration carried out in 1992 in which the main door was blinded, to place in its place the High Altar. The Altar Mayor presents a marmoreal decoration of varied shades, where the most outstanding is the temple that projects inside the shrine, beautifully made and carved by the craftsmen “Children of José […]

The marble mortar is a very popular object that has become our tourist icon. Inscribed in the Guinness Book of Records, it is a tribute to the artisans of Macael marble. Prior to the installation of handicraft workshops in the town, at the end of the 19th century, its complete elaboration (from the drawing on a piece of white marble until its carving with pointers and grinding) determined the end of the stage in which the Young people acted as apprentices, to become considered as stonemasons. More recently, it has gained a notoriety thanks to its use by famous chefs in their appearances in gastronomic television programs. Installing in the roundabout of the Avenida de Almería with the Avenida de Ronda is, of course, done in Marble of Macael. The mortar (base) has dimensions of 3.29 mts. Of height, 3,07 mts. Diameter of the mouth and 30.9 tons of weight; While the hand is 4.73 mts. Of height, 0.85 mts. Of diameter and a weight of 5,820 Kg.