Two main themes stand out in Tózar: archaeological remains and the landscape by the Río Velillos. The archaeological complex is integrated into the Ruta del Gollizno hiking trail. It is also home to a Mozarabic necropolis with clearly defined grave types, traces of the Spanish Civil War and views of gorges.
Archaeological remains from different periods
The Conjunto Arqueológico de Tózar is located right next to the town centre. The complex includes a medieval Mozarabic necropolis, silos dating from the 9th century, the megalithic Dolmen Pileta de la Zorra and a defence system with trenches from the Spanish Civil War. The archaeological site thus brings together different types of monuments and historical connections. If you are interested in the history of the town, you can consider the tombs, dolmen, silos and military remains as distinct points of interest rather than grouping them into a single period.
The Junta de Andalucía lists 80 positively identified graves carved into the rock at the necropolis. Their shapes are anthropomorphic, trough-shaped or rectangular. These three descriptions offer a concrete way to explore the site: they draw attention both to the human-like shape of some graves and to their elongated, trough-like or rectangular forms. Number and shape are two distinct features that can be used to classify the necropolis.
Another named site is the Torre de la Porqueriza. It can be reached on foot from the Parque Arqueológico de Tózar. The tower can therefore be included as a separate point of reference when exploring Tózar’s historic sites.
Views and landscapes by the Río Velillos
From the Mirador de Tózar, you can see the Tajos de la Hoz and the Barranco de Tózar. The Río Velillos flows along the bottom of the gorge. The viewpoint thus offers a specific view of named landscape features and the course of the river. This gives you a different focus from visiting the archaeological remains: here, the gorge and rock formations take centre stage.
The stretch of the Río Velillos along the Ruta del Gollizno also features a distinctive landscape. It includes riverside vegetation, gorges, walkways, suspension bridges and walking paths. While the viewpoint offers a view, this route takes in several features along the river. The viewpoint and riverside stretch therefore appeal to different interests: one offers views of the Tajos de la Hoz and the Barranco, while the other combines riverside scenery and walking paths.
When choosing between these landscapes, you can use this distinction as a guide: would you mainly like to take in the named features from a viewpoint, or are you interested in a combination of riverside vegetation, gorges and built structures along the river? The question connects two clearly distinct aspects of the area without presenting them as a single route.
Plan your stay in Tózar
When looking for a hotel in Tózar, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on during your stay. If you are interested in archaeology, the Conjunto’s location right next to the town centre gives it a clear connection to the town. If you are interested in the landscape, you can consider the viewpoint and the section of the Ruta del Gollizno along the river as separate points of reference.
The Torre de la Porqueriza adds another named site to this comparison, and can be reached on foot from the Parque Arqueológico. Together with the tombs, dolmen and silos, it forms part of an archaeological area with several clearly distinct themes. The viewpoint and the stretch along the Río Velillos offer a different perspective on Tózar: one through views of the gorge and rock formations, the other through the features of the riverside landscape. Which of these aspects you prioritise when choosing your stay depends on your interests.
Discover more destinations: La Ermita, Moraleda De Zafayona, Villanueva De Las Torres, Belerda, Castillo De Tajarja, Iznalloz, Cenes De La Vega, Láchar.
For the main travel overview: Granada.
