 | The ochre land of the southeastern part of Sierra de Gádor mountain range is home to the most rural villages of Western Almería. The area has maintained its agricultural tradition, with the beach of El Palmer as its only opening to the sea. Its small Moorish-style villages offer a distant view of the Mediterranean.
The area can be reached from Almería taking the highway or the coastal road, which passes by the small beach of El Palmer before reaching Aguadulce. It is part of the municipality of Enix and features a hotel and intimate nude beaches that are accessible on foot.
Enix is a village with narrow and steep alleys whose white houses and 16th Century church stand out in the surrounding landscape. It is located on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Gádor. The remains of the Mina del Carmen, a mine dating back to the mining rush of the Sierra de Gádor, can be seen in the quarter “El Marchal de Antón López” or “Marchal de Enix”.
In the same way as Enix, the most attractiveattractive feature of Felix is the arrangement of its streets and houses, a legacy of Moorish times, with its whitewashed houses all surrounding its ancient medieval castle. The church is worth visiting.
As the legend goes, in 1568 in the Moorish uprising against the Christian troops, the Moors of this area, who were fighting the troops of the Christian Marqués de los Vélez, chose to jump off a cliff instead of forcefully converting to Christianity. This is supposed to have happened in a place near Felix, which is now called Cerro de la Matanza, or “hill of the slaughte”.
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The mark of Al-Andalus can also be seen in the village of Vicar. The bell tower of its church-fortress was once part of the Moorish fortress. The 17th Century Casa del Marqués de Casablanca, the house of a nobleman, can be visited near the village, as well as some of the best preserved Roman remains of the province: The Roman aqueducts known as acueductos romanos de Carcauz, in the area of Los Perichos, formed by the Puente de los Poyos and the Acueducto de los Veinte Ojos.
This picturesque Alpujarra setting is where La Envía Golf, a modern estate with all kinds of amenities, is located at the foot of the ridges. It features an 18-hole golf course as well. This is a peaceful haven where you can enjoy your favourite sport. | |