Vélez-Rubio

Vélez-Rubio is a municipality in the mountains of northern Almería at about 847 meters elevation. The town spreads across roughly 282 square kilometers of hilly and mountainous terrain near the Sierra de María-Los Vélez Natural Park.

Humans have inhabited this area for some 30,000 years, with Neolithic structures found at Cerro de Los López. Evidence from the Copper and Bronze Ages shows continuous occupation through successive prehistoric periods.

The Church of the Virgin of the Incarnation dominates the town's center with its grand 18th-century design. It serves as a focal point for local religious life and remains the largest religious building in Almería province.

Spring and autumn are the best times to explore, when temperatures are mild and the mountain landscape is most pleasant. Those wanting to walk the countryside should bring sturdy shoes and water, as the terrain can be uneven.

A local ethnographic museum preserves and displays local traditions through collections of historical artifacts and everyday objects. The exhibits showcase craftsmanship and domestic items from different periods of regional history.