Aroche: Castle, Turobriga and Nature Areas

The historic town centre of Aroche was declared a Conjunto Histórico and placed under protection in 1980. Aroche Castle was built in the 12th century during the Almohad period as the qasaba of the Andalusian settlement and is protected as a B.I.C. monument under Spanish heritage law. The castle had a circumference of approximately 1,200 metres, three gates and projecting bastions for artillery. Restored sections of the town walls are accessible and provide access to the wall walk. Aroche's bullring is located on the former parade ground inside the Islamic castle.

History and Buildings

The Priory Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built in 1483 on the orders of the Catholic Monarchs. The Ermita de San Mamés is a Gothic-Mudéjar building in the resettlement architectural style dating from the mid-13th century; it was extended in the 14th century and contains late-medieval wall paintings from the 15th century. The Ermita del Cristo de la Humildad y la Paciencia is a 17th-century chapel in a popular architectural style, built beside the former Santa Clara gate in the town walls. The Puente de Felipe II was built in 1577 on the orders of Philip II and is considered a well-preserved example of the hydraulic engineering of the period.

Archaeology and Museums

Arucci Turobriga was founded during the reign of Augustus towards the end of the 1st century BC, approximately between 15 and 10 BC. Turobriga is the only visitable archaeological site of its kind in the Province of Huelva. The Archaeological Museum in Aroche was founded in 1958; most of its pieces come from the Hispano-Roman city of Turobriga. The La Cilla Archaeological Museum houses more than 2,000 rosary pieces from around the world. The La Cilla Museum displays archaeological materials from prehistoric, Roman, Islamic, Christian-medieval and modern periods; it also houses one of the most important collections of Roman epigraphy in the Province of Huelva. The Aroche Tourist Office offers guided tours of the castle, church and museums in the town.

Nature

Aroche is one of the municipalities within the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Nature Park. Las Peñas is one of the two nature areas in the municipality of Aroche. Sierra Pelada y Rivera del Aserrador also includes Aroche and is protected as a nature area, ZEPA and ZEC. The banks of the Chanza and the Alcalaboza run through the municipality of Aroche and eventually flow into the Guadiana. Peñas de Aroche is a protected mid-mountain area with holm oak and cork oak forests; well-preserved rockrose stands are important for the breeding of the Egyptian vulture.

Other places: San Silvestre De Guzmán, Corteconcepción, Puerto de la Laja, Aracena, Minas De Riotinto, Paterna Del Campo, Alájar and Cortelazor.

Festivals

The Festival de Diana combines guided tours of Arucci Turobriga with costumed historical scenes depicting everyday life in Roman times. Aroche's bullring is still in use; in August, bullfighting events and other cultural performances take place there as part of the Feria de Aroche. During the Noche de las Velas, the fortress of Aroche and other locations in the town are illuminated with candles; the programme includes historical re-enactments and music. The Romería de San Mamés takes place at the Llanos de la Belleza site at the end of May and lasts two days. The Festival Flamenco takes place at La Cilla or the Torre de San Ginés in Aroche.

Routes

The PR-A 1 Cortegana–El Hurón–Aroche hiking trail reaches Aroche and was officially approved and signposted in 1994. The route can be travelled on foot or by bicycle. The Ruta de la Reconquista passes through the castles of Aroche and Aracena.

For the higher-level travel overview: Huelva.