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About 15km. inland from Almeria, the town is situated o­n the east-facing slopes of the Sierra de Gádor, and spreads over three ravines that run into the River Andarax, from up behind the town the views that spread in front of you over the desert of Tabernas are quite phenomenal, to the right the coast is visible and inland the observatory of Calar Alto sits o­n top of the Sierra de los Filabres.

Prehistoric, Roman and Roman Christian remains have been found in the area, most famous of which are two small white marble statues representing the Good Shepherd dating from the 4^th Century found amongst remains of
Byzantine and Roman mosaics and coins.  This can o­nly mean that the church
of Gádor was o­ne of the first Christian-Roman o­nes in the Valley of Andarax.
In the middle Ages, during the Arab domination, a system of irrigation was
invented for the crops that has changed little over the centuries.  After
the defeat of the Moors at the end of the 15^th Century, the town went into decline, the population decreased and although a new part was added
to the town in the 17^th Century it was to be over 100 years when the
sulphur mines were opened in the 19^th Century that the town grew again in population and economically, after centuries of having to earn a living
out of the land.  For the present the cement factories have replaced the
mines and o­nly the furnaces of the sulphur mines still stand to remind people
of the past.

There is an archaeological site at Los Millares, a short drive away for people wishing to see more evidence of the ancient history of the area.  In Gádor itself the Hermitage of the Holy Cross and Monument to the Immaculate Conception dominate the skyline.  The church of the Virgin of the Rosary dates from the 16th Century and old Town Hall was o­nce a granary.

The railway to Baza and Granada runs through Gádor and it is easy to reach the new dual carriageway that runs between Almería and Granada.

The patron saint of Gádor is the Virgin of the Rosary and the fiesta in her honour is celebrated from the 10^th– 12^th October every year.

The people of Gádor also have the tradition of celebrating the day of Saint Antonio o­n the 13^th June.