Many of the villages of Almería hide in the mountains. Mojácar does the opposite: it sits on a hill next to the sea, white and visible from far away, and it has been one of the best-known villages of the province for a long time. Our loops from Vera pass through it, and it is the best place of the Levante for a coffee stop, or for a day off the bike.
What it is
Mojácar has Iberian and Roman roots, but the village you see today took its shape in the Muslim period: a maze of narrow, steep streets on a hill, with white houses, small squares and corners that open suddenly onto the sea. The old village is on the hill, and the beach area, with hotels and restaurants, is a few kilometres away along the coast.
What to see
- The streets and the viewpoints. The best way to know Mojácar is to walk up from the lower square, without a plan. The ruins of the old castle and the viewpoints near the Plaza Nueva give the best views of the village, the plain and the coast.
- The church of Santa María. Built over a former mosque in the sixteenth century, and with defensive uses in its time.
- The Fuente Mora. A fountain of the Moorish period, at the entrance of the village, linked by tradition to the year 1488, when the last Moorish ruler of the area is said to have sworn loyalty to the Catholic Monarchs. Sources differ on the details.
- The indalo. A small figure, a man holding an arch over his head, that you will see on walls, shops and souvenirs. It comes from a prehistoric cave painting, and it has become the symbol of Mojácar and of the province of Almería.
How to visit
- Plan one to two hours to walk the village, and more if you want to eat there.
- The streets are steep. After a ride, flat shoes are better than cleats.
- In summer, go early or at the end of the day: it is hot and crowded.
- Opening hours of the church and of the small museums change, so check them locally before you plan a visit.
Near our routes
Mojácar is on the way of several of our loops: see Easy 02, Hard 01 and Hard 02, among others, in our guide to Vera and the Levante.
Photos of Mojácar via Wikimedia Commons: INDALOMANIA (CC BY-SA 3.0), Javier Perez Montes (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Millars (CC BY-SA 4.0).