Melegís brings together architectural history, citrus groves and a local food culture reflected in a particular dish. The Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Evangelista, Remojón and views of the Béznar Reservoir offer different ways to discover the town. Melegís lies on the left bank of the Río Torrente, amid orange and lemon groves. You can decide whether to focus on architecture, regional cuisine or landscape during your trip.
A church with several historical dates
The Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Evangelista was built in 1560, combining Renaissance and Mudéjar stylistic elements. Its surviving roof structure dates from 1599 and was made by carpenter Alonso López Zamudio. The two dates distinguish the construction of the church from the creation of the surviving roof structure, giving the architecture a clear chronological sequence. The church is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Monument category; the Junta de Andalucía recorded this protection in 2003. It is therefore a tangible cultural and historical landmark for a stay in Melegís.
Remojón and the town’s food culture
At Melegís’s Fiesta de la Naranja, held in March, Remojón is the main dish. Women from the town prepare it together with the festival organisers. Remojón is also common in the Valle de Lecrín, including Melegís: a salad made with orange, onion, olives, fried cod and pieces of sun-dried tomato. Traditionally, it was prepared in winter. The calendar therefore brings together two points in time: its traditional preparation in winter and the festival in March.
The ingredients combine orange with savoury elements, making Remojón a tangible expression of local food culture. If you are interested in regional dishes, the festival offers a particular occasion to discover this dish and how it is prepared. The festival’s March date is a useful planning reference; the traditional winter preparation, on the other hand, reflects the salad’s established seasonal connection.
Views of the Béznar Reservoir
From the Mirador de las Alvirillas, you can see the Béznar Reservoir as well as Restábal and Pinos del Valle. The viewpoint is also home to sculptures by artist Elena Vicente, commemorating emigrants who left their homeland. The panorama and sculptures bring different themes together: views of the reservoir and the towns, and a reminder of those who left their homeland.
From Loma del Cementerio, the panorama takes in the villages in the lower part of the Valle de Lecrín and the entire Béznar Reservoir. The two descriptions of the views emphasise different features: from the Mirador, the view focuses on the reservoir, Restábal and Pinos del Valle; from Loma del Cementerio, the panorama extends across the villages in the lower valley and the entire reservoir. If you want to choose a landscape focus, you can distinguish between them according to the view you are looking for.
Paths also lead to the shore of the Béznar Reservoir and the confluence with the Río Torrente. Trail conditions may vary, so take them into account when planning a specific outing. These paths offer another way to experience the landscape, without implying that their starting point is in Melegís.
El Baño as another point of interest
The El Baño thermal spring lies below the cemetery, about two kilometres from Melegís. This distance is approximate. If you would like to bathe there, check the water conditions on site. The spring adds a bathing option to the cultural, historical and landscape themes, with local water conditions being an important factor in your decision.
Melegís thus offers different starting points for your trip: architectural history that can be dated, a dish with regional traditions and several clearly described landscape features. You can choose your focus based on your interests and take the stated conditions into account when walking the paths or bathing.
Discover more destinations: Lojilla, Peligros, Trevélez, Benalúa De Las Villas, Capileira, La Zubia, Alhendín, Montefrío
For the main travel overview: Granada.
