Laroya

Laroya is located in the region of the marble, in the Sierra de los Filabres, this town stretches along a hillside, in rough and mountainous terrains where the main crops are olives and almonds.

The first data about Laroya go back to the Muslim era, which indicate that this place was a prosperous and rich area in the region of the marble. Its location between mountain ranges makes to believe, according to tradition, that Laroya's name comes from an Arabic term that meant pot or basin.

After the reconquest of the Catholic Monarchs granted by them and through a royal decree of 1501, the privilege of city to Laroya. This fact was due to Ferdinand and Isabella decided to regulate the political and legal regime of Baza, Purchena and neighbouring cities, among which we can find Laroya.

Laroya is annexed by Baza in that year and also by a royal decree of Ferdinand and Isabella. After its inclusion in the municipal area of Baza, the municipality of Laroya suffered the vicissitudes of history at that time, and it was immersed in the Revolt of the Moriscos, which led to the repopulation with new people.

The evolution of Laroya over the centuries was similar to the economic events in the region. His passage through history has been associated with the construction of important works, thanks to the stone of this area. Laroya has been immersed in an event that in the province of Almería was a draining for municipal census: the migration, the clear and manifest decline of the population can be checked with a local census carried out in the XVII century which showed that in Laroya there were about 400 people, who were distributed in 90 houses. Nowadays the town has a significant population increase in summer, as many of their natives or their children move to the town to spend their summer holidays and celebrate the feast of the patron saint San Ramón Nonato.

Monuments

Parish Church, XVII century. Mudejar style.

Singular built-up area without impact of modern constructions.

Gastronomy

Wheat Crumbs. Olla de Trigo. Rice with rabbit. Purchena Fry (with tomatoes and peppers). Empedrado (Rice with cod and beans). Cod balls. Fried rabbit.

Sweets: Homemade butter-cakes. Butter cakes. Hornazos (cakes made with a batter of eggs and butter). Doughnuts. Fried cakes. 

How to get there

You have to exit Almería. Take road to Granada, then cross Huércal de Almería. Go straight on and take the national road N-340 towards: Huércal de Almería - Almería - E-15 - N-340 - Nijar - Murcia. At the roundabout take the salida 1 and continue along: A-92A towards: A-92 - Benahadux - Guadix. Alleyway of Benahadux. At the roundabout, take the salida 3 and continue along: A-92 towards Guadix - Granada. Take the exit towards: Salida 373/376 - Tabernas - Murcia - N-340a. At the roundabout take the salida 2 and continue along: N-340A. Pass near Tabernas. At the roundabout, take the salida 4 and continue along: A-349. Pass near Tahal. Cross Macael and continue to: ALP-847. Then you get to Laroya.

Distances

To Almería 86 km
To Serón 32 km
To Mojácar 76 km
To Cantoria 21 km
To Macael 7 km
To Albox 27 km
To Tabernas 56 km
To Purchena 17 km
To Tíjola 25 km
To Olula del Río 11 km