On the southern foothills of the Filabres, towards the Sorbas basin and near Campo de Tabernas, lies Uleila del Campo. Archaeological traces, a distinctive village church, landscape routes and olive culture give the town a range of facets. When planning your trip, it’s worth matching these themes to your own interests and travel dates.

When looking for hotels in Uleila del Campo, your reason for travelling is a helpful starting point: are you especially interested in archaeological traces, church architecture, routes through the landscape or the September festival? This can help you plan your travel dates and the focus of your stay together. If you’re travelling for the patron saint’s festival, check the specific event dates in advance.

Landscape and routes around Uleila del Campo

The Mirador de la Umbría is at the highest point in the town and offers views over the landscape, especially when the almond trees are in bloom. The viewpoint offers a seasonal highlight: almond blossom is the specific time when the landscape is said to be particularly striking.

A circular route to the Santuario de la Virgen de Monteagud passes through fields and hamlets. It also goes through Los Medinas, where you can see old farmhouses with preserved wells and irrigation channels. Both the rural buildings and traces of irrigation are therefore part of the route described. The Sendero de los Pueblos de Interior covers a broader area: it is more than 100 kilometres long and connects ten municipalities in the comarca, including Uleila del Campo.

Archaeology, architecture and local tradition

The Cueva de la Mora is a Neolithic archaeological site in the gorge, or Barranco del Zofre. Its documented features include traces of human use, as well as rock paintings and engravings. Another way to explore local history is the Centro de Interpretación del Trabajo Tradicional: housed in a restored old house in the town centre, it focuses on traditional work.

The Iglesia de Santa María was built in 1772 on the orders of the Count of Aguilar. Its architecture is eclectic and includes Neo-Romanesque elements. It has a distinctive architectural feature within the comarca: it is the only church there with a tower topped by a dome. The Piedra de Gitana is also part of the local cultural heritage. It lies on the route to Cerro de Monteagud and is associated with myths and legends.

Routes and September traditions

Two route descriptions offer different points of reference: the Sendero de los Pueblos de Interior is described as more than 100 kilometres long and connecting ten municipalities; for a stage of the route between Uleila del Campo and Laroya, the emphasis is on its difficult rating. This stage starts in Uleila del Campo, heads towards the Ermita de la Virgen de la Cabeza and then follows the Camino del Cerro to Benizalón.

Uleila del Campo’s main patron saint’s festival in honour of the Santo Cristo de las Penas takes place every year on the second weekend of September and lasts four days. The festival includes a pilgrimage to the Santuario de Monteagud to visit the Virgen de la Cabeza; pilgrims arrive there from Friday to Sunday. The festival days and pilgrimage thus offer a specific seasonal reason to take into account when choosing your travel dates.

Olive culture and directions

A visitor project presented in 2023 at Campos de Uleila used walkways to show the entire journey of the olive, from the tree to the production of extra virgin olive oil. The visit ended with a tasting of oils and other local products. The year gives a timeframe for this offering, so don’t assume it is currently available to visitors without checking first.

To get there, take exit 376 towards Tabernas and Sorbas, then the N340a and the turn-off at the “Castillo de Tabernas” olive mill. From there, the A1100 leads to the entrance to Uleila del Campo. As road layouts and conditions may change, check the current route before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Garrucha, Vera, La Envía, Sorbas, Marchena, Lucainena De Las Torres, Alcontar, María.

For the broader travel overview: Almeria.