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Date Published: 08/02/2023

Jumilla to resume restoration of ancient pottery and ceramics kiln

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Another ancient relic is to be added to the tourist attractions of Jumilla

Jumilla to resume restoration of ancient pottery and ceramics kiln Since the project to restore the old “Alfar del Subidor” ceramics and pottery oven or kiln of Jumilla was first proposed in 2015 many other factors have taken priority in the municipality, but the local council has now confirmed that part of the 3 million euros of funding provided by the national government to finance sustainable tourism initiative will be devoted to continuing the work from where it left off.

The Alfar del Subidor can be found in the upper part of the old town of Jumilla, on the slopes below the castle, on the street known as Acerica close to where it joins with Cantererías. It is currently in a state of very poor repair after the initial clearing of the land around it (including an old cave-house) was carried out 8 years ago, but the intention is to convert it into a tourist attraction to rival other medieval, Moorish and even Roman remains (such as the Casón).

Little is known about the exact history of the kiln other than that it was built in the 19^th century, but it maintains the characteristics of those which were in use in the area as long ago as the mid-16^th century. The Alfar del Subidor was still in use until the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) but was gradually abandoned thereafter.

It is also supposed that the kiln was owned and operated by a family named Villena, who came to Jumilla in the late 19th century from Isso. One of the family, Josefa Villena, later married local man José Martínez Tomás, who took on the kiln under the nickname of “El Cantarero” before passing it on to his descendants.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Jumilla Today.

Address

Plaza del Rollo, 1 30520 JUMILLA

Tel: 968 780 237

Oficina de Turismo Jumilla

The tourist office in the centre of Jumilla is easily found by driving straight into the centre of the town along the Avenida de Murcia and following the signposts. The tourist office is alongside the Parque de Don Albano Martínez Molina, where there are a number of parking spaces.

Jumilla, in the north of the Region of Murcia, has become internationally famous over recent decades due to the quality of the wines produced in the municipality, and wine tourism has begun to attract visitors from other parts of Spain and the rest of Europe.

The tourist office is happy to provide a range of maps and leaflets showing the different bodegas which can be visited within the municipality. Some of these form part of the Rutas del Vino de Jumilla, the Jumilla wine route, and can either be visited as a guided tour or sell their produce directly to the public.(see feed below for more details)

However, the town and the surrounding countryside have plenty of other attractions for visitors, and the popularity of Jumilla wines is leading more and more people to discover other facets of the tenth largest municipality in Spain.

Jumilla Tourist Office

These include the spectacular countryside and birdlife in the Sierra del Carche, the historic remains which range from cave paintings and a Roman mausoleum to the castle, the Iglesia de Santiago, the Town Hall and the Teatro Vico, and the gastronomy: rich stews are accompanied not only by the wines of the area but also by Jumilla pears, which also enjoy Denomination of Origin status.

Tourism in Jumilla is not as seasonal as it is in the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia, but the town is at its liveliest during the fiestas in Holy Week and the August Fair, which incorporates the grape harvest celebrations and the Moors and Christians parades.

The Altiplano of the Region of Murcia, which consists of the municipalities of Jumilla and Yecla, is only just over an hour by car from the Mar Menor, Cartagena, Mazarrón, Torrevieja and Alicante, and anyone wishing to visit real inland Spain and world-class wineries is advised to include Jumilla in their schedule.