Tíjola - Almería

Within the Alto Almanzora area, this city is situated on the banks of a river, overlooking the surrounding territory, and mainly consisting of green lands surrounded by hills and ravines.

Described as "La Perla del Almanzora”,( the pearl of the Almanzora), the city is a major urban centre in the region, with its commercial interests,  its beautiful houses and streets well worth the name, also the Church of Santa Maria and the Ermita de la Virgen del Socorro. (convent)

The first data available on Tijola is from Phoenician times, also the discovery of coins and other objects in the copper mines known as Cueva de la Paloma. More recent is the finding of the Roman presence through many different remains.

In the eighth century there was a fortress, Tagel, near the Cueva de la Paloma, strongly built for the defense of the Arabs (Tíjola la Vieja or old Tijola),other names included “Tixola” (hidden) or the Arabic Hins Tagil or wadi. Other Hispanic-Arabic names for Tíjola were Tayul, Tachola and Texora.

In the Decree of 16 July, the regent Queen Isabel II granted the town the title of city, "as a show of royal appreciation of its population growth, agricultural development, trade and industry and constant adherence to the constitutional monarchy “. Tíjola was given to the Catholic Monarchs in 1489 and was granted the Barbaja estate in 1490, at this time there were 150 residents and an income of 60,000 maravedíes and 600 bushels of grain.
In 1492 the city was given to Don Diego López Pacheco, Marquis of Villena, along with Aldaire Bayarque to incorporate them into his estates.

Don Juan of Austria conquered the city on Maundy Thursday, its inhabitants escaped, but its governor died at the hands of Christians.

Monuments

Parish Church of Santa Maria, seventeenth century.
Inside you can find neomudéjar armour, it has been declared a National Monument.

Ermita de San Cayetano, sixteenth century.
Today called Fatima. Built on the ruins of a mosque. Its interior boasts Mudejar style.

Ermita Shrine of the Virgin del Socorro, the seventeenth century.(convent)

 Manor house of Portocarrero, XVI and XVII centuries.

Ermita de San Sebastián, sixteenth century. (convent)

Ermita de San Antonio, sixteenth century.

Archaeological Sites

Alcazaba. (castle)
The remains of the fortress, houses and two wells.

Pago del Prado, IV millennium BC

Llano de Los Blanquizales -Muela del Tio Felix, Neolithic.
Served as a fortress to Iberians and Carthaginians.

Tíjola idol.
 Found in Muela del Ajo. Currently listed in the National Archaeological Museum.

Cela cave.
Argaric pottery shards discovered here.

Tíjola la Vieja.
Already existed in the eighth century with the arrival of the Arabs.

Cave houses.

Railway station.

Cela hot spring.

Gastronomy

Tíjola is known for its gastronomy, being an agricultural and ranching town, between the Levant and Granada, there are a number of dishes which are important in the area, being a mountainous area, with cold winters and hot summers, combining heavy meals, stews, “one pot meals” and fried items, served with spirits and wines, all homemade, of a high quality and traditionally made.

White porridge. Garlic soup. Migas. Wheat stew. Gurullos. Porridge. Braised leg of lamb. Hornazos. (oven cooked meals)

Directions

Almería Exit towards: N-340 - Murcia – Pass Almería  - A-92 - Granada. Take the exit towards: Exit 453 - Viator - Military Base  - A-92 - Guadix - Granada. At the roundabout, take exit 4 Continue along: A-92. Take the exit towards: Exit 373/376 - Tabernas - Murcia - N-340a. Pass near Tabernas and Benitorafe. Pass Olula del Rio  and  Purchena. Arrive at Tíjola

Distances

Almeria 101 km
Olula del Rio 15 km
Suflí 10km Albox 31 km
Albánchez 39 km
Uleila 61km
Líjar 39 km
Cantoria 26 km