Bentarique

Bentarique is a town that belongs the region of El Medio Andarax, in a landscape with vines, citrus and fruit trees surrounded by semi-dessert gullies.

In the middle of this contrast, we can observe the small urban area with its staggered houses that are typical in this area.

The name of Bentarique brought echoes of treasures and wealth, we do not know if it is due to its popular meaning of «venta rica» or because of the Moors’ treasure found in 1896. This place name of Arab origin is proper name of person, given to this place because it was inhabited by Tariq’s descendants. It is composed by two words: Ben, that means «hijo de (son of)» (in classic Arab, Ben is said Ibn), and Tariq, proper noun, being this part of the Arab name called «nasab».

Although the place name is Arab, Bentarique like cultural settlement maybe is older. Idrisi (Muslim geographer and chronicler from the XII Century) mentions Roman thermal baths in a healthful spring, possibly the fountain of La Poznilla or Posnilla, like it was known. It will be in the Middle Ages, during the Muslim perios, when Bentarique is registered in the colonizing activity and founding in the territory of Urs al-Yaman (name of the region from Pechina) with more or less 20 castles in the IX century (towards 881), being the origin of the farmhouse and the archaeological remains of the towers that protected it.

Natural Park of Sierra Nevada

Monuments

Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, XVI century. Mudejar style.

Archaeological Sites

You can observe the archaeological riches of the area in Los Millares.

Town Planning

Casas cueva (Cave houses).

Small urban area without modern buildings.

Gastronomy

The traditional cuisine of Bentarique is not much different from the rest of the province except in its characteristic "point" of production that makes it extraordinary.
We can emphasize:
Potaje de hinojos. Potaje de trigo pelado. Migas. Potaje de acelgas Fritada de conejo. Tortilla de collejas.
Sweets: Gachas. Gurullos. Hornazos de San Marcos. Merengues. Soplillos. Pan dormido. Pan de mosto.

How to get there

You have to exit Almería, take the road of Granada. Cross Huércal de Almería, then take the road 340 and follow towards: Huércal de Almería - Almería - E-15 - N-340 - Nijar - Murcia. In the roundabout, take the salida 1 and continue in: A-92A towards: A-92 - Benahadux - Guadix. You have to exit Huércal de Almería and continue in: A-92A. Follow the sign until you get Bentarique.

Distances