What to see in Aledo

Discuss what to see in Aledo means transporting us to Medieval, when sieges were endured from its impregnable fortress that earned it the title of Very Noble and Loyal. But it also means traveling to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the province of Murcia.

Aledo is located in the region of Lower Guadalentín, located on a rocky plateau that is approximately 650 meters high and that belongs to the southern foothills of the Sierra de Espuña. It is an impressive environment of ravines and slopes that borders the municipalities of Lorca y Totana.. Next, without further ado, we are going to show you what to see in Aledo.

The walls

The first news we have of Aledo dates back to the XNUMXth century. Both due to the historical period and its geographical location, it was a walled town as protection against military attacks. They are still preserved remains of those primitive walls, specifically, some cloths in very good condition and vestiges of its watchtowers.

They were built using the rammed earth technique, that is, placing rammed earth in wooden or brick formwork, and they stand out for their magnificence. You will find the best preserved samples in the San Ramon street, where, by the way, you have a lookout which offers you magnificent views of the Guadalentín valley.

On the other hand, today the walls separate the old town from the modern part of Aledo and next to them you have the place of Las Cuestas, which we will tell you about later when discussing the surroundings of the Murcian town.

The castle, essential among what to see in Aledo

Built by the Muslims around the XNUMXth century, it was left in very poor condition after the conquest by the Christians. These rebuilt the tower of tribute, which is the only part of the fortress preserved today. This is National Monument since 1931 and one of the most impressive in the entire province of Murcia.

Also known as The Calahorra, has a square floor plan and is divided into three levels connected by a staircase. The third has windows with pointed arches, while the other two only have arrows. Likewise, it is finished with rows of battlements. In addition, the ground floor, made up of two rooms covered with two barrel vaults, housed a cistern that supplied water. Finally, under it there were several tunnels that connected it to the river.

Currently the tower is the headquarters of the medieval interpretation center and the tourist office. In the installation you can see different panels and infographics that show you what Aledo was like in the Middle Ages. In addition, you can go up to the terrace, from which you have impressive views of the area. Even on clear days, you can see the Mediterranean Sea.

Church of Santa María la Real

Next to the castle, it is the other great monument to see in Aledo. The early church was built on a mosque by the masters of the Order of Santiago after the Christian conquest of the town. However, the one you can visit today is a building from the end of the XNUMXth century that, on the outside, combines baroque features with other neoclassical ones.

The façade, of Herrerian influence and with two identical towers, responds to the latter. However, its interior decoration is, above all, baroque. This is demonstrated by the images of the Virgin of Aurora and that of the Sorrows, which are due to the great Murcian sculptor Francisco Salzillo. However, the main carving of the temple, which is that of Santa María la Real with the Child, is dated to the XNUMXth century and responds to the Gothic canons.

On the other hand, the temple hosts some of the most notable cultural events that you can see in Aledo. They are the representations of the sacramental autos of The agony on Good Friday and of the Magi on January XNUMXth.

This last celebration is more than two hundred years old and is staged by various groups in the town. But, combining tradition with the present, in the end the character of the king Herod lee the bombs, which are verses that review what happened during the year. Likewise, the performers parade through the town to the area where the trovo masters recite other versified texts to collect money to pay for the festival. And it all ends with a community paella.

More exciting is the representation of the car The agony, a text from the XNUMXth century that, as its name indicates, deals with the death of Christ. He ends with "the weapons" crossing the side of it to make sure that he has died and with a procession inside the church itself until the reenactment of the Holy sepulchre.

Other monuments to see in Aledo

La pillory It was built at the end of the XNUMXth century, when the king Felipe II He emancipated the town from the Order of Santiago and allowed it to have a prison. As you know, it was the place where prisoners were exposed to public ridicule. It is the only one that is preserved in the entire province of Murcia.

Furthermore, the Gate of Traditions It is the most modern monument of those you can see in Aledo, since it was inaugurated in 2008. Its author was Antonio Labaña Serrano and it is a bronze door framed by travertine stone with two columns of this same material. It symbolizes keeping the main traditions of the town. Thus, those cited in the proceedings of The agony and the Three Wise Men, but also those of the jirillos of Saint Mark's Day, Corpus Christi or the Sleepless Night.

The jirillos They are rag dolls that neighbors place on balconies and doors every April 25. They have a sarcastic character, since they embody current characters. Finally, the neighbors go out to the fields to eat the gornazo, a typical cake. For its part, the Sleepless Night takes place at the end of August. As its name indicates, the inhabitants of the old town place candles in doors and windows to recover the medieval essence of the town. Likewise, different music, poetry and theater shows are held.

Finally, two other significant monuments of Aledo are the one dedicated to blood donors, which you will find in the Plaza de la Diputación, and the one that pays tribute to the trovero Juan Rita. The first was a tribute from the Brotherhood of Donors to the town because it led, for years, donations in the province of Murcia. For his part, the second is reminiscent of a famous repentista, that is, an improviser of verses.

Routes around Aledo

Once we have explained the best things you can see in Aledo, we are now going to show you some hiking and walking routes for its natural environment. Next to the wall you have the place of Las Cuestas, which we have already mentioned. It is a cobbled path that follows the original access to the town.

But, in addition, this route has another important value. On the clay walls that frame it, you can see remains of marine fossils, something very rare in this type of landscapes. Therefore, its scientific value is added to its monumental beauty.

However, the routes you can take along the coast are more spectacular. Sierra de Espuña. In any case, we want to recommend two routes. The first of them will take you to the Arboleja Strait. It is a canyon about five hundred meters long that houses water sources and lagoons, as well as capricious limestone forms. It also has a recreation area where you can park your car and have barbecues.

To get here, you must follow the road C-21 in direction to Lorca for about two kilometers. Then, you will see a marked deviation that will take you to that point where the strait begins. Furthermore, in this place there is a huge carob tree that will catch your attention.

For its part, the second route to see in Aledo is the one that leads to the Rambla de los Molinos, a place located to the west of the town center. It receives its name from the six mills it had and which were one of the main sources of money for the municipality. Of some only vestiges remain, but others like the one from Patalache they are still preserved.

Los Allozos and Las Canales

Finally, to finish, we will talk to you about two council districts which are very pretty. Is about Las Canales and Los Allozos. The first of them, about six hundred meters from Aledo, was where the potters dedicated to their task lived. They made their own clay and pieces and you can still see the rafts and ovens in which they made it. The pottery has always been very important in the region of Murcia and this place is one of the best examples. In fact, there are still more modern industrial warehouses dedicated to it.

For its part, the old town of The Allozos It is a beautiful enclave that is currently in ruins. But you can still see the remains of its former XNUMXth century hermitage.

In conclusion, we have shown you what to see in Aledo, the beautiful town of Murcia, and we have told you about some of its cultural traditions. Finally, we want to advise you that, if you visit, you also visit other beautiful towns in the province such as Mazarrón o archena. Come and discover this wonderful area of Spain.