On the 10th of June 1488, Mojácar was handed over to Christian rule under the Kingdom of Castille. However, the Mayor of Mojácar didn’t take it lightly. All the other mayors of the region surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs; however, the Mayor of Mojácar, Alávez, took exception believing they should be treated as brothers and not enemies.
A festival to celebrate the Moors and Christians is held annually in Mojácar on the weekend closest to the 10th of June.
The enchanting Mojácar Indalo symbol, which appears in all shapes and sizes, can be seen throughout Mojácar Old Town and Mojácar Playa. It represents a higher power, protects people and places from danger, and brings good luck.
The mystery of the Indalo remains as various mythological stories unfold from the Neolithic period to Almeria’s cultural movement in the 1950s.
The Indalo is also interpreted as an ancient hunter supporting a rainbow between his outstretched arms. In the past, the Indalo was painted onto the front of houses in the belief that it warned off evil spirits and safeguarded those within.
Today, there is a tradition that you shouldn’t purchase one for yourself; it should always be offered as a gift. So, as a welcoming gift, my brother and sister-in-law bought us one from Mojácar Old Town.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Eyewitness books, I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our Spanish road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
We jumped on the local bus from Mojácar Playa and weaved our way up through the streets to the hilltop pueblo above. Hopping out at the Mirador de la Plaza Nueva base, we are welcomed by the open Andalucian landscape on one side and the intimate steep lanes of Mojácar Old Town above.
As we wend our way through the labyrinth of lanes, you feel like each turn holds an ancient Moorish tale amongst its historic cobbled pathways.
One significant building in the pueblo, which is quite distinctive as it isn’t white, is the Church of Santa Maria. The church was erected towards the end of the 16th century, it served a dual purpose as a place of worship and a defensive fortification.
The church is believed to have been built on the site of an old Arab mosque and represents a pivotal point between the Muslims and Christians of Mojácar.
At the steeped lower side of the church is a beautiful square, the Plaza del Parterre. The Church of Santa Maria and the plaza are connected by a stone staircase within the church.
The Plaza del Parterre is a former ancient Arab necropolis where the tombs look towards Mecca. Today, the porticoed plaza is a pleasant place to sit and escape the Andalucian sunshine.
Discover more of historic Spain and tour its picturesque countryside in the north, or head south to explore the Sierra Nevada National Park just south of Granada.
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The waterspouts are still in use today; however, in centuries past, the ladies of Mojácar would have filled large pitchers with water and carried them home on their heads. The Mojácar public fountain was later used as a laundry, and the ladies used their feet to wash the clothes.
As you can imagine, these public fountains would have been an important necessity to the village and quite a hub for discussing the goings-on in daily life.
Just nearby by the public fountain are the ruins of an old mill.
For something a little different, let’s go in search of the little-known ‘Templo Hippie de Ángel’, just north of Carboneras.
We head south out of Mojácar Playa along the coastal road AL-5107, this is a stunning route to follow as the views across the Mediterranean Sea are incredible. This route will also navigate you onto the roads through the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.
This artistic modern-day temple is just a beautiful place to be; you’ll undoubtedly see the nod to Mojácar depicting the historic Indalo man.
Every day, more and more people visit and place stones at this sanctuary to create a little symbol of peace for themselves. Take time to wander around and enjoy the time and effort that has been given to this lovely place.
There are so many incredible places to discover in Spain and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,
I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more
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