Hoya-Gonzalo brings archaeological sites together with a landscape between the plains of La Mancha and the first foothills of the Sierra. Grain fields, olive groves and gentle hills frame a destination whose cultural traces range from Iberian necropolises to a windmill. The town’s history thus brings burial sites, agriculture and technological use together.
Iberian Necropolises: Los Villares and Camino de la Cruz
The Yacimiento Arqueológico de Los Villares is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). The Iberian necropolis covers 0.5 hectares and dates from the 6th to the 4th century BC. Finds include a 1.8-metre-high sculpture of a warrior on horseback. The necropolis’s date range and the specific equestrian motif offer two different ways to explore Los Villares: a chronological perspective and one centred on a single artistic artefact.
The Camino de la Cruz necropolis offers a different perspective on Iberian burial practices. It lies within the municipality, next to small storehouses to the left of the town. Its simple graves contain cremated remains, urns and grave goods. While Los Villares can be described in terms of its date range and the equestrian sculpture, Camino de la Cruz centres on the form of its graves and their grave goods.
Collection and Windmill
The Museo EtnolĂłgico Camino de la Cruz displays household items and agricultural tools. The objects on display date from the 7th century to the beginning of the 20th century. This brings together a broad time span and two specific aspects of everyday life: the household and agriculture. The museum complements the archaeological themes with a perspective on objects from different centuries.
The Molino de Viento de Hoya Gonzalo was built between 1320 and 1340 to grind wheat. Unlike the museum’s broad range of objects, the windmill can be associated with a specific construction period and a stated original function. It therefore offers a distinct way to explore the town’s rural heritage.
Dry-Stone Structures and Landscape
More than 40 Cucos and dry-stone huts have been catalogued within the municipality. These structures add an ethnographic perspective to the transitional landscape between the plains of La Mancha and the first foothills of the Sierra. Grain fields, olive groves and gentle hills characterise the landscape; the dry-stone structures form a distinct part of its rural heritage.
Route and Travel Planning
The pilgrimage route leads to Hoya-Gonzalo via Calle Larga and Calle de la Iglesia. Tiles featuring a scallop-shell motif mark the route. If you use these markers to plan your journey, check their course on site before setting off.
For June, the municipal calendar lists a pilgrimage in honour of the Virgen de Fátima. If you plan to include the pilgrimage in your trip, check the date before you leave. On this stage, Hoya-Gonzalo is a stopping point with a municipal pilgrim hostel. Before setting off, check whether this accommodation is available for your dates.
Discover more destinations: Los Alejos, Robledo, Reolid, Fuensanta, Cenizate, Nerpio, FĂ©rez, La Felipa.
For the overview of the wider area: Albacete.
