Hornachos

Hornachos is dominated by a fortress-castle in the shape of a boat from atop its outcrop. This is believed to have been built during the first Arab invasions, although Hornachos has been inhabited since the Neolithic, as is demonstrated by the schematic cave paintings at La Sillá and Sierra de Pinos. 

The best way of getting in touch with the history of Hornachos and its legacy is to follow a route and lose yourself in its culture. Some must-sees include the fuente de los moros spring, and the red brick aqueduct. Continue towards the Posito, which is currently used as a Morisco culture visitors' centre, and from there head towards the Purísima Concepción parish church, a major architectural site in the Mudejar style, with its beautiful coffered ceiling. Continue towards the Mudejar-style San Francisco convent-church, and then the fuente de los cristianos spring. End at the pilar de cuatro caños drinking fountain, where you can rest after your lovely walk. 

Refresh yourself by trying some of the local dishes, such as migas (fried breadcrumbs), gazpacho, caldereta de conejo (rabbit stew), caldillo soup and black pudding. And remember to wash your food down with some local wine -red, white, young, aged and "pitarra"- and finish your feast with some piñonates (pine nut pastries), "puchas" ("porridge") or delicious repápalos de arroz (rice doughnuts).

Traditional fiestas in Hornachos, in addition to that of its patron saint, the Virgen de los Remedios on 8 September, include the recently added, but very important matanza didáctica, which takes place in the last week of February to remember the ancient, and essential, activity of killing and butchering a pig.