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Villages in Granada

Orce

Villages in Granada

Orce, Fuentenueva, Venta de Micena y Pozo de la Rueda

The town of Orce is located in a northern annexe of the province of Granada, on the border with Almería. The municipality limits with Cúllar, Galera, Huéscar and Puebla de Don Fadrique, and also with the Almería municipalities of María & Chirivel.

It has a population of about 1475 inhabitants, divided between the main town and the hamlets of Fuentenueva, Venta Micena and Pozo de la Rueda.

The township has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the archaeological sites of Venta Micena and Barranco del Paso. Since ancient times there was an economic and military route from the east coast and Cartagena to the mining area of Linares, and which, linked by the springing up of a series of human settlements, came in time to be Orce and its surrounding lands. During the Arab Andalusian period the alcazaba or citadel was built (XI century) associated with the formation of the Taifa kingdoms. In the year 1320 it passed under the jurisdiction of the kingdom of Granada, having a border with the Christians of Cazorla, Segura, Caravaca and Lorca.

In the mid-fifteenth century Don Rodrigo Manrique, the father of the poet Jorge Manrique, led a surprise attack on the town. Ten years later it was to be conquered again by King Muhammad X of Granada, re-establishing the Granadina frontier of the northern Sierras. It was given to the Catholic Monarchs in 1488. After the conquest it would become the estate of Don Enrique Enriquez.

Orce Monuments

Alcazaba de las Siete Torres (Citadel or fortress of the Seven Towers), building began in the eleventh century; the keep was built in the sixteenth century as the residence of Don Enrique Enriquez (now houses the Archaeological Museum). It was declared a National Monument in 1973.
Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Maria (St. Mary’s Parish Church, XVIII century).
Segura Palace (XVI-XVII centuries).
Marqueses de Dos Fuentes Palace.

Archaeological

Paleontology Complex of Orce (Venta  Micena and Barranco del Paso) .
Cerro del Gallo. (Heights of Gallo)
Cerro de la Virgen.
Zamborino Solana. (Solarium)
Watchtowers of Salar and Umbria, XIV century.

Urbanism

Very unique old town.
Public Fountain.
Cave-dwellings.
Museums.
Archaeological Museum Jose Gilber.

Gastronomy

Orce popular cuisine is characterized by its Spanish and Andalusian influence.

Their pastries, of Moorish roots, are based on oil, almonds and flour. The most representative dishes of Spanish roots are related to the ‘matanza’ (the slaughter of the pigs). Worth trying are the homemade sausages, really very good. Ham, chorizo, pork loin, stuffing, several kinds of pork sausage, and morcilla or black pudding (freshly prepared and cooked on the fire, it is worthy of the best palates).

A wide variety of products derived from pork, also the exquisite lamb segureño, famous throughout the region. Salsa (sauce) cooked over hot coals, with garlic, or baked in tins, is simply delicious. Furthermore, most ‘orcenses’ (as the inhabitants are called) have a small family garden, where they grow figs, almonds, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, lettuce, green beans, habichuelas, chickpeas, garlic, onions, potatoes, squash, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and saffron.

Directions

Leaving Granada. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit. Continue along: E-902 / A-44 heading to Armilla – Motril. Follow the direction: Exit 118 – A-92 – Almeria – Murcia – Málaga – Algeciras – N-432 – Cordoba – Airport. Follow directions Almeria – Murcia. Continue: A-92. Take the exit towards: Exit 295 – Baza – Murcia. Take A-92N. Take the exit towards: Exit 356, A-330, A-4302 – Cullen – Huéscar – Puebla de Don Fadrique. Turn left: Carretera de Baza to Benamaurel direction: C-3329 – Cullen – Huéscar – Puebla de Don Fadrique. In Cúllar Baza, go to: A-330. Turn right: GR-9107. Arrive at Orce.

Distances

Granada 151km
Baza 44 km
Maria 30 km
Galera 8 km
Huéscar 15 km
Castillejar 31 km
Benamaurel 33 km
Cullar Baza 22 km
Cortes de Baza 42 km
Puebla de Don Fabrique 36 km


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