La Nava De Ricomalillo brings together archaeological rock art, trails through the countryside and a continuing local tradition. For planning purposes, these topics can be considered separately: the rock carvings lie two kilometres south-southwest of the town centre, while the church stands in the centre. The trails described, meanwhile, lead to different landmarks and views of the countryside.
La Cerca Rock Carvings
The La Cerca rock carvings are located within the municipality of La Nava De Ricomalillo, two kilometres south-southwest of the town centre. The ensemble includes anthropomorphic, zoomorphic and ideomorphic motifs. This classification shows the variety of the depictions without reducing them to a single group of motifs.
The carvings were made using the techniques of pecking and incision. This allows two different aspects to be distinguished when viewing them: the motifs depicted and the methods used to mark them into the rock.
Stage Six of the GR 166
Stage six of the GR 166 Camino de Guadalupe is a 17.4-kilometre linear route from La Nava De Ricomalillo to Campillo de la Jara. It starts at a signpost in La Nava’s square; from there, the route heads towards a restored old washhouse. The stage also reaches the RĂo FrĂo, where old mills can be seen.
The distance refers to the entire stage to Campillo de la Jara, not a circular route returning to the starting point. This helps to identify the route as a one-way trail. Local signage and trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.
Trails and Views of the Countryside
The Ruta del Cerro del Castillo is a trail in the natural surroundings of La Nava De Ricomalillo, offering panoramic views across the Jara countryside. Its described focus is therefore on the views. A viewpoint at the former gold mine, in turn, offers views of the southern Jara and the Sierra de Guadalupe.
The history of mining includes the gold vein at the former mine, which was the richest on the Iberian Peninsula in the 18th century. This historical context distinguishes the significance of mining from the countryside views associated with the viewpoint today.
Church and Subida al Mogorro
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción stands at the heart of the town centre. It is the town’s most important religious and heritage landmark. This gives it a different focus from the rock art outside the centre and the trails through the countryside.
One specific event is recorded for Easter Sunday 1944, 9 April: after the Easter Mass, residents climbed Cerro del Mogorro carrying flags and images of saints. There they laid offerings to ask for protection from storms. This dated episode should be distinguished from the longer tradition of the Subida al Mogorro. It continued for many years and is still observed today, albeit in a considerably diminished form.
The trails offer different points of reference when choosing a theme: for the GR 166, the stage number, distance, start and destination are specified; the Ruta del Cerro del Castillo is characterised by its panoramic views. The rock art and local history complement these perspectives on the trails with motifs, historical context and local tradition.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Casasbuenas, Rinconada, Villanueva De Alcardete, Mejorada, OntĂgola, Malpica De Tajo, Navahermosa, Santa Cruz De La Zarza.
For the wider travel overview: Toledo.
