(Pink
dotted line
on the map)
This
route starts
out at the
Plaza Mayor
(50m from
the tourist
office) and
is well marked
by red ceramic
plaques along
the way. At
the start
it passes
through the
city centre,
an area constructed
between the
16th and 17th
centuries,
and whose
houses are
arranged in
rectangular
blocks around
wide straight
streets. It
goes on down
past the archaeological
museum which
is housed
in an old
chapel (worth
a visit) ,
and then past
the old Manor
house of the
Cabrera family.
It
then runs
along the
edge of the
Sánchez
Faba Park,
passing through
the neighbourhood
of San Antón
which was
built in the
1970’s,
and goes up
a hill, where
every Easter
Good Friday
one of the
oldest Easter
processions
in Spain takes
place. It
ends up at
a viewpoint
which is easily
recognisable
because of
its 3 crosses,
and from here
you can make
out the beautiful
plains of
the Galera
river valley
and the surrounding
mountains.
Turning
to the left
towards Calle
Cruces Alto,
the route
continues
uphill passing
through the
curious Santísimo
neighbourhood
– known
for its old
cave-houses.
At the end
of the Avenida
de Andalucía
a there starts
a steep and
quiet lane
which you
take to reach
San Isidro´s
Mirador or
viewpoint,
and later,
at the highest
point in the
area, to the
Mirador de
Santa Elena,
a quiet corner
where you
can enjoy
one of the
most beautiful
views over
the village.
At the end
of this street
, going past
the other
side of the
Cerro de la
Virgen, you
com across
another of
the most picturesque
corners of
Galera: the
Portacho.
From this
small square,
there are
views to the
east the Cerro
del Real (Royal
hill), where
the old Iberian-Roman
city of Tútugi
can be found.
Going
down again
towards the
centre, to
the foot of
the Ermita
de la Virgen
(hermitage
of the Virgin),
the circuit
zigzags across
the neighbourhood
of San Isidro
which is a
good example
of Arabic
town planning
with very
compact buildings
made of limestone,
gypsum, clay
and wood.
The area is
a jumble of
narrow twisting
streets. The
church lies
at one end
of the San
Isidro road,
once more
within the
city centre
boundary.
A national
monument since
1931, it is
notable for
its beautiful
Mudéjar
craftsmanship.
The
last stretch
of the route
takes you
round to the
other bank
of the River
Galera, going
past the Iron
Bridge, an
interesting
construction
from the beginning
of the 20th
century, and
past the pillar
of the park,
Parque de
la Cruz, which
in the past
was used as
a drinking
trough for
animals. The
end of the
route brings
you back to
the Plaza
Mayor, crossing
the river
via a footbridge
at the back
of the swimming
pool and the
recreational
complex. Here
you can find
quite a few
restaurants
and cafes
where you
may taste
the famous
local Galera
wine known
as mosto.
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