Sierra María-Los Vélez

Among the Chirivel depressions and Huéscar rises a set of rugged mountains that form a landscape which alternates with beautiful valleys and rugged mountains with peaks in winter white stain highlighting the contrast with the barren landscape that surrounds it is the Nature Park Sierra María-Los Vélez.
If you walk along the path of the Pinar de la Alfahuara, discovered one of the best preserved forests of the province and Hunting at the time of Philip II. Among its dense vegetation consisting of “pino carrasco”, “encinas”, “pino laricio” and “caducifolios” living mammals as “ardillas” or “tejón”, and raptors are present as the “águila calzada” or “gavilán”. For those interested in learning about the vegetation of the area, can make an easy path to the foot of Sierra de María running through the Botanical Garden of “La Umbría de la Virgen”.
Large thermal fluctuations, with low annual rainfall, often in torrential, caused a drastic change in the landscape. At points where vegetation is sparse, such as areas of high slope in sunny, erosion is extreme and occur as large gully formations and deep ravines of the “Sierra de la Muela”.

Moreover, these high rocky summits become safe places where copies of nesting “águila real”, “búho real” and “halcón peregrine”.
Another highlight of the Sierra María-Los Vélez is that here you can find exclusive species such as “Centaurea de Sierra Maria”, or an impressive example of sabina albar that is in the municipality of Chirivel approximately 1600 meters of altitude and which was declared a Natural Monument. Belongs to a species uncommon in the region of Andalusia, and it feels a thousand years old. The community of invertebrates has exclusive species, including the “mariposa diurnal” known as “Apolo” or “pavón diurno”.
Visiting “Hoya de Taibena” of how it is in the lower areas, the hand of man has changed the physiognomy of the landscape and woodland (“encinas” and “pinos”) and the Mediterranean scrub were replaced by fields of crops, notably cereals and “almendros”.
Since ancient times man has sought shelter in the foothills of the mountains and significant deposits attest. “La Cueva de Ambrosio” is a cave dating from the Paleolithic and, the “La Cueva de los Letreros” from Neolithic, which contains a set of paintings of well-preserved rock art.

With over 7500 years old and considered one of the largest in the Iberian Peninsula, it is the figure of the “Indalo” symbol of Almería.
Another visit indispensable in the Natural Park is the Castle of the Vélez, a jewel of Renaissance style, declared National Historical Monument.
It should be stressed that there is a partnership between the Natural Park of Sierra Maria - Los Velez and Natural Park Altmühltal located in southern Germany, in the heart of Bavaria, approximately one hundred kilometers north of Munich.

Techinal Data:

Extensión: 22.562 Ha

Declaration Date: 17 October 1987

Provinces: Almería

Municipalities: Chirivel, María, Vélez Blanco and Vélez Rubio.