"Mecina Bombarón", popularly known as "Mecina", is a municipality in Granada belonging to the "Alpujarra" region. It is crossed by a river that takes its name, a tributary of the "Adra". What sounds better than a bit of rural tourism in the "Alpujarra"?
So far you might ask, what's so special about it? Every village in the area has its charm, and this one is no less than the rest. One of the most popular buildings is the church dedicated to the Archangel Michael, whose construction began in 1539. Other buildings of worship are the hermitages of "Los Remedios" and "Las Ánimas".
As for military architecture, there is an old barracks of the Guardia Civil which has a neoclassical style, and in civil architecture, a very old bridge from Roman times. You may find some photos of them in the Photographic Museum of "Mecina", inaugurated in 2000, which collects photos from different periods in the "Alpujarra Granadina".
However, another sight you must see is "Las Chorreras", a waterfall at an altitude of almost 2,000 metres whose water comes from the glaciers of "Sierra Nevada".
And what's in the surrounding area? "Mecina Bombarón" is surrounded by three small villages: "Yegen, Golco and Cádiar". Walking through them we can admire some of the other buildings that form part of the heritage of these "Alpujarra" villages.
For example, in "Yegen" there are many fountains. A couple of them are the "Camellona" and the "Fuente Nacimiento", whose name it shares with one of the mills that also you can visit in this area. On the outskirts are the remains of a castle in the so-called "Peñón del Fuerte", where the last Moors took refuge.
If you prefer to go to "Golco", don't forget to visit the "Castillejo", an ancient walled enclosure in which sites with tools from the 8th and 9th centuries have been found.
If you're feeling peckish after your visit, how about a break for lunch? We recommend you try the chestnut stew, or the "gachas de ajo quemao", a pair of dishes prepared separately: the porridge and a broth made with peppers. You can accompany it with a good wine or a dessert of raspberries, which are widely grown in this area.
Once your stomach is full, you can go back to your hotel to rest. You can also choose to stay in one of the typical rural houses of the "Alpujarra", characterized by their white façades and wooden beamed ceilings. Whichever way you choose, you are sure to find the rest you need here.
The patron saint festivities of "Mecina" are held between 28th and 30th of September, in honour of the Archangel Michael. Just over a month later, on the 1st of September, the festivitie of "las Castañas", a celebration of pagan origin in which chestnuts are roasted at night to the rhythm of local dances and songs, is commemorated.
As attractive as the lands of the "Alpujarra Granadina" are, you should not miss the opportunity to come to "Mecina Bombarón" for a holiday at least once in a lifetime.
