Discover Murtas: Church, wine tradition and festivals
Accommodation in Murtas
Murtas offers several points of interest for a culturally focused stay: the Parish Church of San Miguel, the traditional village character, its wine and agricultural heritage, and religious festivals. The Murtas windmill and a hiking route to the remains of a former fortification also offer distinctive experiences. When planning your trip, it is worth matching these themes to your preferred dates; two of the festivals mentioned take place in different months.
Church and village character of Murtas
The Parish Church of San Miguel was built at the end of the 18th century on the foundations of an earlier mosque. Its history therefore spans two distinct religious periods: the former mosque and the later church building. The church has three tall naves with neoclassical furnishings and details made from locally sourced red marble. The bell tower also shapes the way the village is seen: it is a distinctive visual landmark throughout the Sierra de la Contraviesa.
A walk through Murtas takes you along whitewashed streets lined with traditional chimneys, flat terraos roofed with launa, and covered tinaos. The façades also feature tiles bearing quintillas, or five-line poems. The village scene thus brings together traditional architectural features and short poetic forms. The condition of individual buildings may vary.
Wine tradition and agriculture
The Museo Enológico de la Contraviesa is part of the Centro Temático del Vino and is located in the oldest part of the winery. It houses a collection of objects related to the region’s winemaking tradition. Numerous agricultural implements and tools used for various tasks in the region are also on display. The exhibits therefore cover both winegrowing and other agricultural activities. If you are interested in Murtas’s rural traditions, these two themes offer a useful distinction: the history of winegrowing on the one hand, and the diverse work carried out with tools on the other.
Poetry and musical verbal duels
Alpujarran trovo is a form of improvised poetry accompanied by lutes, guitars and violins. In Murtas, troveros face off in controversias, or verbal duels. The quintillas on the façades, by contrast, are five-line poems displayed around the village. Comparing them reveals two distinct forms of poetic tradition: verses on buildings and improvised verbal duels accompanied by music.
Pilgrimage and festivals throughout the year
During the RomerĂa de la Santa Cruz, participants travel from the pilgrimage chapel to Cortijo Morgana. The procession ends with their return to the pilgrimage chapel in Murtas. The silver image of the Santa Cruz de Caravaca is the patron saint of Murtas.
The San Miguel festivities take place every year on the last weekend of September. They include musical performances and shared meals. The Fiesta de la Parva is celebrated in August; visitors can take part in threshing grain. August and the last weekend of September thus offer two different dates to consider if you would like to plan your trip around a festival. Check the specific festival dates before making plans.
Plan visits to heritage sites and trails
The third polygon of the protected historic site of Alpujarra Media Granadina and La Tahá covers the Cerrajón de Murtas. The Murtas windmill is in the Cuatro Vientos area; from its base, there are 360-degree panoramic views. If you plan to visit, check access and local conditions beforehand.
A hiking route leads to the remains of a former fortification that guarded the crossing over the Contraviesa. The site’s historic role gives the destination a clear connection to controlling this crossing. Before setting out, check access and trail conditions, as part of planning this route.
Discover more destinations: Albuñol, HuĂ©tor Vega, Jerez Del Marquesado, Picena, CĂłnchar, DĂşdar, LecrĂn, AtalbĂ©itar.
For the broader travel overview: Granada.
