Hueneja

The village of Hueneja is to be found on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevadas, and forms part of the municipal area of the Natural Park, at an altitude of 1158 metres, on the edge of a gorge in this rugged region which the Arabs called the Sened; an ideal place from which to start tours around the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada.

Apparently the origin of Hueneja is in the culture of Algar, supported by the findings of several drinking vessels, other objects and burial chambers of this culture, as well as its situation in the centre of the natural pass that runs from the Antas ravine, having water on one side and the Lower Andarax on the other, controlling communications which exist between the Granada plateau of Zenete  and the Almeria coastline, and also providing access to the copper mines in the southern foothills of the Sierra de Baza and the northern Sierra Nevadas.

Hueneja belonged to the Bastetania and was included in the Roman colony of JG Acci, in the jurisdictional limit of Tarragona, and the road from Ilíberis runs from the town to the coast, along the "Pasillo Fiñana."

During the Islamic period it was known as a fortress, a castle having been built, and was known as Guenichea or Reniha. It has been written that King Boabdil stayed in the cortijos of Huéneja from September 27 to October 3, 1490. From these times we have the Arab baths, the remains of the castle, and the basis of existing canals and water mills.

In the era of Moorish occupation, the area was under the control of the Marquis Rodrigo de Mendoza through to the Moorish uprising of 1568, the Moors were defeated and expelled, and the town repopulated with people from Aragon, Castile and Andalusia.

Monuments

Iglesia-Basilica Parroquial ( Parish Church XVII century).
Ermita de la Virgen de la Presentacion (XVII century).  (convent)
Casa de Correos  (sixteenth century.)

Archaeological sites:
Arab Baths.
Bridges over the gorge separating the village and the urban centre.
Barrio del Albyzín.

Gastronomy

Many fine tasting traditional dishes like migas and olla de segadores (harvester’s pot.) Other culinary delights include paprika broth, local handmade bread, casseroles and ‘calostros’.
Sweets: cake, buns, rolls, greaves cakes, almond and egg bagels.

Directions

Leaving Granada. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit Continue along: E-902 / A-44 heading to Armilla - Motril. Pass near Maracena and Peligros. Follow directions Almeria - Murcia. Pass Albolote, go to: A-92. Pass near Lopera. Take the exit towards: Exit 288 - Purullena - Cortes y Graena - Beas de Guadix - Troglodyte City - Ceramic Art. Follow signs towards Purullena. Pass Purullena. Continue to Guadix. Exit Guadix. Take A-4101. Pass Esfiliana. Continue along: A-4102. Turn right: A-92 heading to Almeria. Take the exit towards: Exit 321 - Huéneja - Las Huertezuelas. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit Continue along: A-4103. Arrive at Huéneja.

Distances