Ceramics traditions, historic buildings and archaeological sites reveal different sides of Totana. In town, an easy 2 km cultural walking circuit takes you around Totana on foot. There is also the longer Sendero de la Santa circular hike around the Sanctuary of Santa Eulalia de MĂ©rida: the trail is 7.25 km long and starts and finishes at Paseo del Santuario. This gives you a choice between a short circuit in town and a hiking route with its own starting point.
On foot through Totana and around the sanctuary
RUTA TOTANA EN MIL PASOS is an easy, 2 km cultural walking circuit. Totana is also easy to explore on foot independently of this route; walks take you to the town’s main cultural and architectural sights. For a different distance, the Sendero de la Santa leads to the Mirador de la Virgen Blanca and then follows the GR-252 through an open forest of Aleppo pines. Its circular layout and clearly defined distance give this hike a different character from the short cultural walk.
The Sanctuary of Santa Eulalia de Mérida is on a road that runs through the orchards of the municipality of Totana to the foothills of the Sierra Espuña. Inside, the walls are completely covered with tempera paintings created by Juan Ibáñez between 1601 and 1624. The religious building also has a carved wooden Mudéjar ceiling in the nave, from the workshop of Esteban Riberón. The wall paintings and ceiling show two distinct aspects of the sanctuary’s decoration.
Towers, chapels and ceramics
The Torre de la Iglesia de Santiago was built between 1606 and 1608 as a three-storey tower of exposed brick. Local potters made its gargoyles from ceramic. The tower serves religious and cultural-tourism purposes; access is through the church. A visit to the restored tower offers an insight into its construction. The tower thus links architectural history with a visible example of local ceramic craftsmanship.
The Ermita de San Roque is an 18th-century chapel with a single rectangular nave and floral paintings from the same century. It is also associated with an annual tradition: on 8 December, the image of Santa Eulalia is kept there. The following afternoon, it is carried in a solemn procession to the parish church of Santiago, where liturgical celebrations are held in her honour.
Pottery and ceramics are considered Totana’s most important traditional crafts. The municipality also has Arab kilns catalogued as Cultural Heritage Assets of Cultural Interest. In the Barrio de las OllerĂas, visitors can attend a demonstration in pottery workshops; availability may vary. If you are particularly interested in ceramics, this offers a way to connect the craft tradition with buildings such as the Tower of Santiago.
The Museo de la Torre de la Iglesia de Santiago presents objects and interpretations relating to Totana’s history. Bookings for the Museo Torre de Totana are made through the Totana Tourist Office; group visits are always guided. If you are planning an organised visit to the archaeological site of Las Cabezuelas, contact the Tourist Office in advance as well: visits of this kind are arranged through the office.
Archaeological sites around Totana
La Bastida is an archaeological site of the Argaric culture. It lies in the Las Viñas-Carivete area, on the foothills of the Sierra de la Tercia, on the left slope of the Valle del GuadalentĂn and 6 km from Totana town centre. La Bastida is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Western Europe. Its location and distance from the town centre set it apart from the cultural stops you can visit on a walk through Totana.
Las Cabezuelas is best known for its Iberian culture and notable ceramic finds. Numerous materials from the Roman period can be seen above ground. This period continuously overlaps with the Iberian period and extends at least to the first half of the 2nd century AD. The two sites thus offer different historical emphases: La Bastida represents the Argaric culture, while Las Cabezuelas is associated with Iberian finds and visible materials from the Roman period.
The buildings in the historic townscape can also be distinguished by period. The Arco de San Pedro, also known as “De las OllerĂas” or “De la Rambla”, dates from the 16th century. Separate from this is an aqueduct on the edge of the former OllerĂas neighbourhood: it was built in 1753 by Pedro de Mora Cánovas of Totana and designed by Silvestre MartĂnez. MartĂnez also designed the Fuente de la Plaza Mayor.
The two circular routes described also differ clearly in length and starting point: 2 km through Totana or 7.25 km starting at Paseo del Santuario.
Discover more destinations: Librilla, Las Moreras, Torre Guil, Mula, Sucina, Sangonera La Seca, Molina De Segura, El Saladillo
For the main travel overview: Murcia.
