One Foot in the Past - A historical walking tour of Baza

07/04/2024

Today the planning and research started for a newly proposed driving/walking tour of historical and archeological gems of the area.

The new tour will be up and running in October and will take place during the cooler months of the year 😊

Today I revisted Baul, home of the newly renovated train station and the truly impressive iron railway bridge (designed by Gustavo Eiffel).

Interestingly, Baul only came into existence because of the railway. Old maps show that there was only a farmhouse located there prior to the building of the railway. At it’s peak Baul was home to several thousand people, whilst the latest census shows a population of just 188.

05/11/2023

What have the Romans ever done for Baza ?

Why not find out (as well as discovering how the Iberians, Moors, Napoleon and Isabella of Castille have influenced the history of Baza) by joining me on a historical walking tour of Baza.

With cooler daytime temperatures, there really isn’t a better time of year to join me on a tour :)

07/10/2023

The weather in October is just perfect for booking a historical walking tour of Baza.

So why not join me and enjoy a leisurely walk around it’s little known streets and plazas, whilst learning about the fascinating history of the area, see some of it’s hidden architectural delights and end the tour with a freshing drink at a popular bar.

Simply contact me for further information 🙂

07/10/2023

There’s so much history on our doorsteps if we just step outside and look .....

An isolated ermita, an old train station and a tasty menú !

Decided to take a half day out exploring. A couple of years ago someone mentioned a remote ermita and I decided it was time to track it down.

Isolated was not the word ! Leaving the main road, it was 2km down a dry rambla, followed by a further 3.5km along an unmaintained dirt track. No problem for a 4x4 or enduro bike, not so good for the poor old Skoda.

Surprise, surpise, I had the place to myself. Sadly I couldn’t get into it, however, there were loads of really old abandoned cave houses nearby. What was unique about them was that the floors were made of river stones and flagstones (which I’ve never seen before).

On the way back, I took a detour to the old train station of Gor, mainly because it featured in the Sergio Leone film ‘Duck you Sucker’.

A tasty menú at ’Mirasierra’ roadside restaurant and then home.

I need to do this more often !

12/05/2023

One of the great things about sharing the history of Baza on my walking tour, is that people sometimes share new information with me 😊

This happened yesterday, when Lyn Hadfield
mentioned some cave paintings she had been shown on the slopes of Jabalcon.

Whilst she couldn’t remember the location, with the help of the internet I found a scientific paper that shared their coordinates.

And so a successful mini exploration followed to locate the cave paintings.

The Los Machos shelter has 32 geometric, circular and human like daubs.

Ochre in colour, the finger paintings are thought to date to around 5,500 - 2,500 BC.

The history of our area just keeps on giving 😊

18/02/2023

Are you, your visitors or your guests feeling confined after the recent spell of bad weather ?

Why not stretch both legs and minds by booking a fascinating historical walking tour of Baza ?

For more details or to book a tour WhatsApp or message me: Danny 684 456 722.

06/09/2022

Today in Baza, we shall be celebrating our unique fiesta ‘Cascamorras’.

However, were you aware that the significance of this fiesta dates all the way back to 1490 ?

And whilst we are at it, why is it on the 6th September, why is it called Cascamorras and what is the significance of the black oil ?

These are just some of the many things you’ll discover on a historical walking tour of Baza.

And with the weather cooling, there really is no better time to join me on a tour !

01/02/2022

Exploring ‘El Marchalico- Viñicas’, one of the largest abandoned villages in Almeria, with the last inhabitant leaving in 1969.

11/12/2021

Looking for a stocking filler for Xmas ?

Then why not purchase an environmentally friendly, import tax exempt historical walking tour gift certificate ?

The perfect gift that allows the lucky recipient to walk off some of that Xmas excess whilst stimulating the mind … it really is the gift that keeps on giving !

17/09/2021

More happy historical walkers :)

With the drop in temperatures, now is the perfect time to book a tour and find out what all the fuss is about !

Message me foe more details :)

06/09/2021

The Fiesta de Cascamorras should be happening today and with it the feria, however, for a second year covid has prevented them taking place :(

The history of how the Cascamorras came to be is one of stories I share on the walking tour of Baza.

Below are posters from previous years.

31/07/2021

Last week Baza celebrated the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the ‘Dama de Baza’.

Discovered in Basti (one of the most ancient towns in the peninsula), she is the best example of an Iberian funeral statue in existence.

During the historical walking tour of Baza, you will find out more about not just the Iberians, but all the other civilisations that have made Baza their home.

You’ll learn about the history of the railway, the siege of Baza, the civil war and so much more.

Contact me to learn more about this fascinating tour or to make a booking :)

03/07/2021

These photos where taken during the opening of the Baza train station on December 16th 1894.

Today, this is the starting point of the historical walking tour of Baza, where amongst other things, you’ll learn all about the history of both the station and the route along which is operated.

The walking tour takes full advantage of natural shade and the many narrow and cool streets of Baza, meaning tours can be enjoyed even during the hot summer months :)

Why not message me to book a tour and learn more of the fascinating history of Baza ?

26/06/2021

Another great review for the historical walking tour of Baza :)

Why not book a tour and find out what all the fuss is about ?

13/06/2021

The Altiplano is dotted with long abandoned cave houses and cortijos.

It’s always worth investigating, as you never know what secrets they may hold !

06/06/2021

The arab baths in Baza are one of the best remaining examples of moorish architecture in our town and one of the best preserved in Spain.

Built in the 13th Century, they were 1 of 3 public baths in existence at the time and were linked to a nearby mosque.

A visit to them is included in the historical walking tour of Baza.

Why not book a tour and discover many of the other secrets that Baza has to offer ?

04/06/2021

Historical walking tours are back and proving as popular as ever.

Don’t take my word for it, check out the most recent reviews below and then book yourselves a tour and discover what all the fuss is about :)

11/04/2021

We are so lucky to be surrounded by many reminders of the muslim history and heritage in the Altiplano.

On the outskirts of Guadix is the ‘Torrecilla de Baza’.

Not only is it an impressive watch tower but the views of both Guadix and the surrounding atea are stunning.

I also love that you have a medieval communications tower right next to 21st century communication towers !

28/03/2021

There’s so much history on our doorstep if you only know where to look !

This includes a whole network of castles and towers, that allowed, through smoke signals, communication of news and to warn of possible conflict.

At one end of Negratin is ‘el castillo de Benzalema’, whilst at the other is ‘el torre del Mariq’.

09/03/2021

Did you know that this year is the 50th anniversary of the discovery of ‘La Dama de Baza’ ?

28/02/2021

Week 6 of Baza ’past and present’ features the Plaza de Santo Domingo.

The plaza was known locally as ‘market square’, as it was where the weekly produce and live stock market took place.

With the easing of restrictions, walking tours are now resuming.

All tours are privately guided and only need a minimum of 2 people.

Please message me for further details :)

21/02/2021

Week 5 of Baza ’past and present’ features the Iglesia de la Merced (church of Mercy).

A church with an amazing history ... once the location of a mosque during Muslim times, then a chapel before being a church.

As well as a place of worship its been a nationalist prison (after the civil war), but is best known as being the home of the ‘Virgin of Mercy’ and the ultimate destination of the cascamorra.

With the easing of restrictions, walking tours are now resuming.

All tours are privately guided and only need a minimum of 2 people.

Please message me for further details :)

14/02/2021

Week 4 of Baza ‘past and present’.

This is probably my favourite historical picture of Baza and is taken from the top of Calle Alamillos (bank street to many).

The animals are drinking from the Fuente de los Caños Dorados’.

Historically the fuente was an animal watering trough, dating back to muslim times and located outside one of the three entrances to the medina (walled city).

07/02/2021

Week 3 of Baza ‘past and present’. This time we are at the train station in Baza.

The walking tours start here, where I talk about the history of both the train station and rail network.

04/02/2021

Not everyone knows that it is possible to walk around both the ancient city of Basti as well as the the site of the ancient Iberian tombs (where the Dama de Baza was discovered in 1971).

However, it was difficult to view the actual tombs as the protective doors were very heavy.

The ayuntamiento has now invested in new lightweight doors which now makes this unique historical site more accessible :)

Hace unos pocos años se instalaron puertas de protección muy pesadas que ahora han sido cambiadas

31/01/2021

Week 2 of Baza past and present.

This week we are at the junction between Calle Alamillos (bank street to many) and Calle Agua (Post Office).

One of the 3 entrances to the Muslim medina (walled city) used to be here before being destroyed in an Earthquake in 1531.

27/01/2021

For those that didn’t know, there are a network of tunnels (dating back to Muslim times) that run under the Plaza Mayor, Main Church and remains of the old Alcazaba. They were later used as air raid shelters during the Civil War, before being sealed up.

In 2018, 500 meters were re-opened and explored and the idea was raised of opening them up as an interactive museum.

This week the first stage of the project (making the tunnels safe) has been put out to tender.

I look forward to being able to add this to the historical walking tour of Baza :)

Se prevé intervenir en 500 metros de túneles construidos durante la Guerra Civil

24/01/2021

Week 1 of my new feature, ‘Baza past and present’.

This week we are at ‘Los Balcones de Palo’ in the barrio San Juan, one of the many areas we explore on the historical walking tour of Baza.