Darro

Darro is located at 1200 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Sierra Arana, from where you can enjoy amazing views of the Cordillera Penibética. The town belongs to the municipality of Hoya de Guadix, where one of the oldest and most important prehistoric sites in the province is located, the Cueva Horá. This cave is almost like a natural bridge. Its two entrances connect the inner area of ​​the mountain range with the valley of Guadix, which throughout history has made it ideal for monitoring dams and stalk hunting. The area has been occupied by man for at least 30,000 years. It was discovered in 1925 by the German archaeologist Obermaier and it was excavated three decades later by the Swiss archaeologist Spanhi and the Spanish archaeologist Pellicer. It was not until the 1970s when its great value was really understood: according to experts and archaeologists, the presence of Neanderthal man and a settlement of the Mousterian culture are undisputable. Flint tools and bones of various animals such as deer, turtles and even rhinos were found here.

The town centre is a mixture of the architectonic styles typical of Andalucía and La Mancha. This was due to the repopulation after the Moorish rebellion, resulting in a curious combination of buildings. Here there is a famous fountain with 24 pipes, which is hugely popular amongst the people of this place. The agricultural activity of this municipality is based on the cultivation of cereals and olives.

This area has been inhabited in the Palaeolithic era, the Bronze Age and Neolithic period. The existence of fertile land so close to the rivers, as well as the iron and copper deposits, made this a popular site throughout the ages. Pieces of great value and historical importance have been found here, pointing to the existence of these prehistoric settlements.

The town has been known throughout its history as Harat Darro and Hadarro. During the Arab era it was not a town of great importance and after the Christian conquest its population plummeted with the expulsion of the Moors. Later, it was repopulated with settlers from other regions.

In the 18^th century, the Marquis of Ariza donated the land where the parish church stands to the town. In recent times, new buildings have been built in Darro to complement the older ones.

Darro is famous for its excellent sausages, including chorizo, blood sausage and pepperoni. In its most traditional recipes include the grilled lamb and suckling goat. Some of the best local pastries are the Tortas de pringue and the Rosco de huevo.