Lanteira

Lanteira has been nicknamed The Silver City because of the large amounts of silver that has always existed in the area. It is a small town that maintains its traditional customs. It is also a great place for excursions – from here you can go on walks and hikes into the beautiful surrounding areas, some of which will take you close to the Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada. It is one of the starting points for climbing the Picón de Jérez and for climbing the 3000 metres of the Sierra Nevada.

Near the village in the mountains there are many places of great beauty that are easy to reach. They include the Mirador el Peñón, the Tajo del Toril, the Tajo de los Vencejos and the Rinconá. The canal area is a recreational area just two kilometres from the village and just by the river. It is the perfect place to spend an afternoon in the fresh air.

On Palm Sunday the town puts on a popular re-enactment of the Passion of Christ, a tradition that was established in 1888. In 1994 the re-enactment was awarded with the Mundo Teatre Award.

Argentaria was the town’s first name, which comes from the Ibero-Roman period. Later, during the Roman Empire it was changed to Argenteira, whilst during the Middle Ages it was known as Alyanteira. Over the centuries the name Lanteira has finally stuck.

It has always been thought that Lanteira was not a major town because it was set back from the main roads. However, all the archaeological remains found here disprove this theory, as do the two medieval defensive fortresses and their baths. The town was taken over by the Catholic Monarchs during the Reconquista that finally ended in 1492.

In 1568 the Moors initiated a revolt and were subsequently expelled. The town was almost entirely deserted. Years later it was repopulated with settlers from northern parts of Spain.

The town produces excellent local cheeses. In addition to these, its most popular dish is called ‘sustentos’, a stew made with potatoes, chorizo, red peppers and corn flour.