Alboloduy

Alboloduy, Medio Andarax Region Almería

Alboloduy’s municipality has 70,06 sq kilometres, located in the right bank of the the river Nacimiento,  and belongs to the region of Medio Andarax, subregion of Bajo Nacimiento. Alboloduy borders the neighboring municipalities of Nacimiento, Gérgal, Santa Cruz de Marchena, Instinción, Íllar,  Alsodux, Canjáyar and Las Tres Villas.

Geologically it is integrated in the Bética zone, at the South, belonging to the complex of La Alpujarra, with ancient materials of the Triassic period, and where different types can be distinguished, a carbonated-surface formation with presence of limestone and dolomites of yellowish colour, which leans on micaesquistos with garnet and an intermediate zone of filias and quartzite.

The municipality has a critical lanscape, being Alboloduy at an altitude of 372,6 meters above the sea level and to a distance of 36 kilometres from Almeria.

The river Nacimiento separates both most important massifs; to the right is the Montenegro, with the highest peak), the Galayo (1.710 meters), also the Taracín (702 meters) and the hill of La Guardia (702 meters), gliding between its slopes the  Barranco de los Catalanes (gully of the Catalans), picturesque place as flower and fruit garden with plants and animals.

On the left bank we find the massif of el Mencal, with the Cruz del Mencal (933 meters) . Due to its hydraulic significance, the river Nacimiento is the most important geographical accident, which was always known as river Alboloduy up to the second half of the 18th century, when it is renamed as Nacimiento.

The climate is a semi arid Mediterranean type, characterized by the summer drought and the scanty annual rainfalls, being irregular and torrential, mainly in autumn. The most rainy month is December and subjected to frosts. The driest month is July.
Its name refers to the toponym of Arabic origin Baladun that means country or mother land.

From the prehistoric period we know of settlements of the Neolithic and of the end of the Bronze. In the Peñon de la Reina (the Rock of the Queen)  there have been bonze hilts and and remains of ceramics associated with the Tartessian and Phoenician cultures have been found. The Romans knew this place as Taracín.

During the Al-Andalus period the Yemenies soldiers of the Quda tribe settled down in this place. The agriculture will be the main economic activity of this period.

With the Christian conquest, the Catholic Monarchs ceded Alboloduy’s taha to Boabdil. This one, before leaving to Africa, sold it for 80.000 ducats in 1493.

As  many other towns of the region, it suffers the  Moorish uprising of 1568. With the expulsion of 1570, Alboloduy remains deserted until its repopulation in subsequent years.

During the 19th century, with the sale of Church lands and the abolition of the lordships, the disintegration of the lordship of Albodoluy takes place. During this century there will be a constant growth of the population due to the wealth provided by the Ohanes grape cultivation.

The beginning of the 20th century is characterized by the social tensions, the unemployment and a strong drought. After the fall in of the Ohanes grape cultivation, it will be replaced by the alternative cultivation of the citrus fruits and at present the horticulture and the fruit trees attain an important development.

Sierra Nevada Natural Park

Monuments

Hermitage of the Saint Christ
Parochial Church
Remains of the old Fortress
Archaeological Deposits
Deposit of the Peñón de la Reina
Remains of the old Mosque

Gastronomy

Potaje de hinojos (vegetable soup of fennels). Potaje de trigo pelado (vegetable soup of peeled wheat).  Potaje de acelgas (Vegetable soup of swiss chard). Fritada de conejo  ( Fried rabbit). Tortilla de collejas (Collejas omelet)

Sweet things: Gurullos. Meringues. Soplillos. Pan dormido (Sleeping bread). Grape juice bread.

How to get to Albodoluy

Leave Almeria and take the road to Granada. Cross Huércal de Almeria. Continue in: A-92A. Cross Benahadux. Pass near Alhabia and continue till Alboloduy.

How to get there

From Almería take the Granada road. Crossing Huércal de Almería. Continue in : A-92A. Crossing the town of Benahadux. Pass near the town of Alhabia and continue until you get to Alboloduy.

Distancias

Gádor 20 km
Ohanes 31 km
Huécija 21 km
Almería 35 km
Bentarique 12 km
Huércal de Almería 29 km
Alhama de Almería 16 km