In Mairena, paths lead through the village centre, along the Acequia Real and to viewpoints overlooking the village and the mountains. Exploring the area on foot also brings you across traces of its agricultural and religious history. The different routes and sights can be chosen according to distance, mode of travel and interests.

Walking routes around Mairena

The PR-A 421 – Sendero Acequia Real de Mairena is nine kilometres long. The stated duration is two hours and 40 minutes on foot, or 40 minutes by bicycle; conditions may vary depending on the season. The route starts at the entrance to the village, passes through the centre to Las Eras, follows the Acequia Real de Mairena and returns via the road from Júbar. It therefore combines a route through the village with sections alongside the historic watercourse and threshing floors.

The GR-7 also passes through Mairena, following former connecting paths in the Alpujarra. The Camino de la Sierra is another described route: it covers five kilometres from Mairena via the Acequia Real and Júbar, returning to Mairena. This route is shorter than the PR-A 421; its description dates from 2017. Check local trail conditions before setting out. For the PR-A 421, the general guidance is also to stay on the path and respect private property.

Views and landscape

From the viewpoint by Mairena’s hermitage, you can see the Sierra de la Contraviesa, the Sierra de Gádor, the Sierra Nevada and more than ten surrounding villages. The Mirador de Mairena offers views of the village; it also has an outdoor fitness area for adults. Both places offer views of Mairena, but with different focuses: one on the wider surroundings, the other on the village itself.

The Peñón de la Alfaguara also offers views of the landscape and the village. Signs at the rock point to the presence of a medieval cemetery. The Piedra de los Tiempos, a legendary rock, is also nearby. In the past, it was believed to have beneficial powers for the harvests. During the Ollas de San Marcos procession, people go to this rock, where the fields are blessed.

Below Mairena, a track runs through orchards and farmland to the road from Laroles to Valor. Another notable natural site is the Castaño Grande de los Molinos, a large tree in the chestnut grove of Praomonte near Mairena.

History, daily life and traditions

Fuente Alta is a historic spring where people still collect water for its taste and its reputed properties. Below it is the Lavadero de Mairena, considered an important public place for work and communication among women. These two places therefore represent not only water, but also communal everyday activities.

The present-day Iglesia Parroquial del Santo Cristo de la Luz was begun in 1704 and is an example of enduring religious Mudéjar architecture. It replaced an earlier building constructed between 1604 and 1610. These two dates mark distinct building phases and help place the history of the church site in context. The Molino de la Trujilla is regarded as a notable mill in Mairena.

Agricultural work is also reflected in the threshing floors. Las Eras is considered the largest and best-preserved group of traditional threshing floors in the area. Above Mairena is a group of seven threshing floors made of large, flat stones, which were used for agricultural purposes.

Local dishes include the Ollas de San Marcos, a communal dish made with bacon, blood sausages, cardoons, fennel, pulses and potatoes. A custom on 23 June is also associated with Fuente Alta: for San Juan, people wash their faces there. These traditions complement the paths and buildings, offering a glimpse into communal customs and the significance of particular places in the village.

For the wider travel overview: Laroles.