Oria Almeria Spain, Andalucia. Descriptions and photographs. towns Almeria

ORIA

Distance to Capital (Km): 150
Local Inhabitants: Orialeños
Number of Inhabitants: 2,121
Postal code: 04810

Oria is situated in the Sierra de las Estancias in the Almanzora Valley. Surrounded by hills, fields of cereals and orchards of olive and almond trees. A beautiful setting with a diverse history, there is much to enjoy and explore.
In Al-Andalus times this was primarily a Muslim area, with the mosques forming the centre of the religion. After the Christian conquest, the Catholic Monarchs gave this area to don Juan Chacon in 1492. During the Moorish revolt El Maleh gather more than 150 men, and headed by Sebastian Elquagaci terrorised the local area. Sebastian was captured and put on trial by the Inquisition where he was condemned. After the fighting around 1570, the Moors remaining in the area were expelled and the repopulation of Oria was primarily old Christians.
Today, the majority of the locals earn their living from agriculture, although tourism is a part of local economy too.

Places of Interest
St Gregory’s Hermitage
Church of Nuestra Señora de la Merced y de los Desamparados, 18th century
Remains of Orias fortress
Remains of the castle

Festivals
Moors and Christians, May
San Gregorio, May
Virgen de las Mercedes, August

Gastronomy
Puchero (stew). Caldo de huevos (egg soup). Gurullos (made from flour, water and oil to form grains like rice). Pelotas (dumplings and sausage). Fritada de sangre (fried blood). Brandy ring-shaped cakes. Almond cakes.

Town Hall
Tel 950 122 736