Senés

SENÉS

by Saskia Mier

Senés is found in the Sierra de Filabres, surrounded by steep mountains which were the first plots used by the Moors and which are now abundant with almond trees. It has about 330 inhabitants.

HISTORY

The town is of Arab origin, with a unique urban typology due to the use of slate slabs in construction. The locality has, however, been populated since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the different megalithic burial structures found in Cortijada de Avellaneda, Los Nudos, Sierra Bermeja, Las Umbrias, Los Morrones and Collado del Rayo most of which have some well-preserved components remaining of their trapezoidal or rectangular figures. In addition, the Bronze Age town of La Hoya de la Matanza has been discovered.

The settlement continued throughout the times of Roman Hispania and well into the medieval Andalusian legacy; terraces were used for cultivation to counteract the unevenness of the landscape, aided by hydraulic constructions such as mines and cisterns. The medieval castle of El Castillico de Senés was built in the twelfth century, promoted by Abu Ishaq ibn al-Hayy de Velefique, along with other fortresses and constructions of the Sierra de Los Filabres.

With the end of the Moorish Rebellion (1482-1491), the Catholic Monarchs granted the towns of Senés and Velefique to Juan Téllez Girón, II Count of Ureña, who alienated them at the beginning of the sixteenth century, transferring Senés to Enrique Enríquez de Quiñones, a relative of King Fernando. This united the Lordships of the Sierra de Los Filabres and its own Lordships to the jurisdiction of Baza, giving it the name of the Casa y Estado de Baza.

THINGS TO SEE

Iglesia Parroquial
The Church is of Mudejar style, repaired after the expulsion of the Moors in the sixteenth century with the arrival of the new settlers. It consists of a central nave and side chapel, housing images and accessories of great artistic and sentimental value for the locals. Located in Plaza del General Franco.(Location)

Centro de Interpretación de la Historia a la Leyenda
The Interpretation Centre of History to Legend reveals the monumental wealth of the fortifications of Senés, as well as the human aspects that gave rise to the particular celebration of the Moros y Cristianos Festival of Senés. Located on Calle Granero.(Location)

COUNTRYSIDE WALKS

GR-244
This route links ten municipalities: Alcudia de Monteagud, Benitagla, Benizalón, Castro de Filabres, Lucainena de las Torres, Senés, Tabernas, Tahal, Uleila del Campo and Velefique. During the 109km route, ramblers can find an endless number of ethnological and landscape contrasts including the mountainous massif of the Sierra de los Filabres, from which walkers can appreciate the Tabernas Desert and the Natural Area of ​​the Sierra de Alhamilla.

GASTRONOMY

Visitors to Senés can try local dishes such as migas (fried bread served with pork), sopa de ajo (garlic soup), olla de trigo (wheat stew), cocido en morcilla (black pudding stew), choto al ajillo (garlic goat) and gazpacho dulce (sweet gazpacho with the added ingredient of honey). Sweet treats include roscos (aniseed doughnuts), bollos de nata (cream buns) and empanadillas (pastries filled with sweet pumpkin).

FESTIVALS

Popular festivals in Senés are Semana Santa, Fiestas en Honor a El Divino Rostro and Fiesta del Emigrante. More>

TOURIST OFFICE

The tourist office of Senés is located in the town hall.More>

NEARBY PLACES

The neighbouring villages to Senés are Velefique, Tahal and Tabernas.

Booking.com