Fuente	Hermitage

Details

Oria is situated o­n the far northern side of the Almanzora Valley, o­n the slopes of the Sierra de las Estancias, and has been inhabited since prehistoric times.  Oria is 113.6 kms from the capital of the province, Almería.  It stands at nearly 1.022 metres above sea level and perhaps this is the reason that o­ne of the features of the village are the tall chimneys.  This is a windy location and the high chimneys ensure that smoke from the fires (very necessary during the winter) does not blow back down to the fireplaces.

The archaeological dig at El Picacho in La Rambla de Oria has revealed plenty of remains dating back to the Bronze Age, but so far no evidence of buildings.  However, remains of the important medieval settlement have survived – the Alcazaba, Turkish baths and an irrigation system which continues supplying water to the surrounding plain.

The Moors also built a mezquita outside the village o­n the slopes of the mountains behind, and indeed they fought hard for this town.  When Sebastián Elquagaci finally lost his battle, he was taken before the Inquisition who confiscated all his possessions and condemned him to six years in the galleys.  The higher site of medieval fortifications – El Villar and Castillo de Olias – is naturally difficult to reach since the castle was built to control the nearby strategic pass.

In 1492, the Catholic King and Queen gave Oria and the surrounding territory to Don Juan Chacón and when he died in 1503 everything went to his second wife who sold it all to the first Marques of Vélez.  Unfortunately the chronicles of the 16^th Century have been lost and little is known of this era, except that very few people lived here and they must have had a hard life, struggling to cultivate the sterile soil, where even the sturdy olive trees struggle to survive.

Today’s population is scattered among Oria’s hamlets, which include Fuente del Negro, La Rambla de Oria, San Indalecio and Los Cerricos. In these small settlements and in the main village there are plenty of examples of traditional domestic and agricultural buildings as well as several waterwheels.

Oria’s parish church (1767 – 1779) is dedicated to La Virgen de las Mercedes, who is represented by her statue over the arch of the main doorway. Other notable features of the church are the small dome over the transept and the elegant bell-tower.  The original 17th century parish church, the Hermitage de San Gregorio Ostiense, is a short distance from the village.

The land in this area is formed by metamorphic rocks and the sediments which bind them.  As the sediments erode more easily than the rocks, the scenery in the river valleys especially, is spectacular.  Gigantic rocks have avalanched and tumbled in chaos o­ne upon the other, creating a wild, lunar landscape.

Saint Gregorio is the patron saint of Oria and fiestas are held in honour of him from 9^th to 11^thMay.

25^th April is the day of Saint Marcos and in Oria the tradition of celebrating this fiesta is also upheld.