Berja - What to visit

After its acquisition by the City Council, the Tower was renovated and it now houses the Municipal Tourism Office and a Site Museum, with interesting original pieces that commemorate the historical events of the convulsive 16th century, with the expulsion of the Moorish after the war and the later repopulation.
 

In Goya Street we can admire the Baroque farmhouses of the 18th century, adorned with their blazons on the main door, as well as the neo-classical palace houses of the 19th century.
 

Warned by their spies of the imminent attack, the Christian troops let the Moorish enter the town through this and other long and narrow streets, confident that they would easily surround the encamped troops. Once inside, they were trapped by the Christian troops who locked them in the upper part of the streets so they could not defend themselves. The Christian troops sustained only 20 casualties.

As early as the 19th century, many mine owners and wealthy people of the time built their residences on this street. Some of these stately homes are preserved, such as the Jewel which houses the “Hotel Casa Palaciega”.
 

The house with its true palatial character was surrounded by a unique sumptuousness that included the best materials available at the time. The most characteristic element is the forge that features ironwork crafted into a remarkable flowing and opulent fantasy style.

Apart from the prominent bourgeois character of this building, the importance of water cannot be ignored. Even though it is a private building, it has not failed to provide a public spirited service, as it houses a water source and mill. The small fountain has a bronze pipe in the shape of a small dog and the traditional mill is one of the few that has been operating in the province until very recently.

These two public service elements gave the name by which this construction is popularly known: the "Perrillo Mill". It is currently being restored by the City of Berja and soon people can again enjoy the opening to the public of this stately building, which will host the Municipal Library and the Center for Historical Studies of Berja.
 

Water Street ends at the Cervantes Boulevard.

It is also known as the “Century Boulevard”, as it was built to welcome the 20th century.

It stands out for its large plane trees and for being an authentic Boulevard of the late 19th century.
 

On each floor there are corridors around the staircase that allow access to the rooms. The house is located in the Cross Square, named for the cross that commemorates the miraculous conversion of a Muslim servant. He was reluctant to be baptized, however, he became a Christian on his deathbed, due to the devotion he felt for the image of the Virgin of Gador.

It is also known as "House of Social Security", because here was the health house until the 80s. It is currently the House of Culture which is the headquarters for temporary exhibitions.
 

It was a market for supplies until its restoration began to recover its original appearance, using stones from the local quarries of Buenavista and black marble from Balsaplata, and it was opened in 2012. Currently it is used as an ideal location for all kinds of recreational and cultural events. On one side of the street there is an exit to Arco Street, while at the back we find the Hotel Don Miguel Plaza and access to the current food market where from Monday to Saturday, you can find fresh products of the highest quality.
 

Its construction took place in a record time of 40 days. The bullring was inaugurated on September 9, 1956 and featured the bullfighters Rafael Mariscal, Miguel Montenegro and Sergio Diaz. The tickets cost between 35 and 100 pesetas, which was expensive at the time, but it did not prevent 4,000 spectators attending and the bullring was completely filled. Currently, bullfighting shows are performed with first level bullfighters, to coincide with Berja's Saturday Fair.
 

From its high peaks that are snow covered in winter, the water travels down, supplying Berja with the precious liquid that hides deep within its heart. Since Roman times, aqueduct builders from the Arab period and to this day, have managed these waters with care. With the help of gravity and through a complicated and ingenious network of ditches and rafts, they have fertilized the lands of Berja since time immemorial.

The construction of terraces (known as paratas) supported by stone walls (known as balates) have allowed, with great effort, to expand the irrigated areas and fertile land, thus taking maximum advantage of the available water.
 

With more than 30 kilometers of perfectly marked approved trails, visitors can explore, with itineraries of different difficulty, the mining heritage of the unknown Sierra de Gador. This magnificent area also hides a lush forest and a great wealth of fauna (wild goats, squirrels, golden eagles, goshawks, sparrowhawks, owls, etc.).

Castala is also the starting point of the forest tracks that go up to the Sierra de Gador, which are very popular with mountain bike enthusiasts. Following a kilometer along this track, you can accesses the Tajo de la Fuente climbing area, which is equipped with different difficulty routes and later on, you can enjoy hang gliding and paragliding at the El Zarzalon Free Flight Station.

The mild climate and the unique mountain topography, in a valley protected from the winds, assure paragliders a flight of 900 meters of altitude in the best conditions, even in the middle of winter. According to experts, the winter season is when it becomes one of the best places for this sports practice.
 

Unfortunately, the walls were demolished in large part after the Reconquest of 1489, to prevent them from serving as fortifications in case of uprisings.

If you wish to explore the enclosure further, you can do it by means of a path that covers little more than 2 km, both there and back. This is an easy path that will take you first to the remains of the amphitheater of the ancient Roman town of “Vergi”, which was also located here, and later to the Espolon Tower and the restored Arab water supply reservoirs.

Outside the enclosure we can visit the Arab Baths of Beneji, which were the public baths, or the Hammam dating from the 11th century, both of which have been recently restored.