Vélez-Blanco Trip: Sept 1 2023

Almanzora Group of Friends

Are pleased to announce a Day Trip

* Velez Blanco & Castle*

Date 1st September 2023

Price 37 euros members 42 euros non-members

(Based on 30 Travelers)

The group’s visit to Velez Blanco in September is the first visit there by AGoF for many years and is an interesting town with approximately 2000 inhabitants. Below is a brief summary of the town’s history, however we will learn more about the town from our guides on the day.

The Castillo de Vélez-Blanco was built in the 16th-century by Fajardo. Also noteworthy are the church of Santiago, the Convent of San Luis and the Cave of the Signboards, in which is the Indalo, cave painting of the late Neolithic or Copper Age that represents a human figure, and that has become the sign from the province of Almería. The cave was declared a National Historic Monument in 1924 and later in 1998 also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Both Vélez-Blanco and Vélez-Rubio share the same gentilicios, egetano and egetana, although this term was first coined by Vélez-Blanco and, later, Vélez-Rubio adopted the same word for its inhabitants.

Below is the itinerary devised for us by Elle Draper who edits the AGoF website.

ITINERARY

Firstly – the castle: There is a charge for the English speaking guide. It is €1 per person and should be paid to the guide on the day. No donation to the castle is mandatory. There is a teeny gift “shop” at the entrance/exit if people wish to buy souvenirs.

Then lunch at Bar la Sociedad: They will be providing a Meñu del Día… but have asked for flexibility with ingredients (normal for them). So no choices needed ahead of time – they will pretty much be drowning you in platters of stuff. There will be plenty to eat. I have asked that they include vegetarian options for the non-carnivores.

Timings:

Meet in the car park at the Castle just before 12 noon. The tour will take approximately one hour. I will be there to meet you too. A reminder that there are some stairs, but they are not steep. Wheelchairs won’t manage unless you have some strapping chaps happy to heft people about.

1pm (ish): After the tour, I will bring the group down through the town, stopping off at various points of interest to take piccies. I can speak to you all on the day to gauge people’s mobility levels… which will dictate the route I take. There are three options, varying in “steepness”.

2pm: Lunch at Bar la Sociedad. They will provide long trestle tables outside which affords pretty views up the High Street. They’ll have large parasols up.

After that – it’s up to you. If anyone wants a bit more of a bimble, I can do that too. I’ll leave you to arrange a time for the coach to collect you all – it can park outside the Bar. It’s a tight squeeze… but other bus/coach drivers do it every day, so it’s more than doable.

I look forward to meeting you all on the day!

Elle Draper

Members will be able to book this trip in the library from 10 o’clock Wednesday 14th June 2023. Bookings can be made up to and including Friday 28th July 2023 when the library will close for the month of August.

This promises to be a very interesting trip with a recommended restaurant for a meal.