Fuensanta offers several ways to explore the area: the landscape and cuisine shape the character of La Tova, while La Parroquia de la Fuensanta is known for a designated route and patron-saint festivities. Archaeological remains and the former Balneario de La Fuensanta add to the picture. You can explore nature, local history and festive traditions as distinct points of interest.

Landscapes in La Tova and La Parroquia

The wider area around La Tova features a varied rural landscape of cultivated plains, riverbanks lined with tamarisk trees, scrubland and reforested Aleppo pine forests. In La Parroquia de la Fuensanta, hills covered in almond trees surround the settlement. The two landscapes have distinct features: riverbanks and woodland shape the setting around La Tova, while the almond-covered slopes stand out near La Parroquia.

Routes and practical considerations

The Ruta Castellón-Columna Miliaria is designated in La Parroquia de la Fuensanta as a short, family-friendly route, 5.3 kilometres long. It starts on Calle Mayor and crosses the Río Vélez. Depending on the season, this crossing can be difficult; waterproof footwear is recommended. When planning, consider the seasonal conditions at the crossing as well as the route’s length.

The route offers views of Cerro del Castellón, Sierra de la Culebrina and Muela de Montalviche. On the return leg, it follows Calle de la Fuensanta; beforehand, it passes the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. One stop is a 2.7-metre-high replica of a milestone dating from the time of Emperor Augustus. The milestone is more than 2,000 years old. The route thus combines views of the landscape with a specific historical point of interest.

The Ruta El Cimbre crosses the Río Vélez, also known as Corneros, towards Baños de la Fuensanta, then runs alongside the Balneario. The Ruta de los Pantanos offers a different kind of route: a 58-kilometre circular mountain-bike trail.

Festive traditions and culture

The patron-saint festivities in La Parroquia de la Fuensanta honour the Virgen de la Asunción. They are listed as taking place from 10 to 15 August; check the exact dates locally before travelling. The traditions include a pilgrimage, during which residents set out at dawn for the Santo in the mountains. It is already within the Diputación de Jarales. At the summit, there is a shared meal, a floral offering and a fireworks display. Ask locally for the latest dates and programme.

Festive activities include games, a water-balloon and water-pistol contest, Brisca, a fancy-dress party and sporting activities. The Parroquia de la Asunción may be the origin of today’s settlement of La Tova. In the wider area around La Tova, the remains of a fortress include sections of wall, three towers and two cisterns. A building in the area was also abandoned in the late Almohad period and has remained unchanged since.

The former Balneario and La Tova cuisine

The facilities of the former Balneario de La Fuensanta remain near the settlement. Restoration and a possible later reopening are potential future steps. The Ruta El Cimbre runs alongside the Balneario; the route and the surviving facilities offer a distinct connection to the area’s history.

La Tova’s cuisine also offers a distinctive perspective on the region. Seasonal produce, game and poultry are key ingredients in traditional dishes. If you want to explore the landscape, history and food culture together, these culinary traditions complement the impressions made by the routes and festivities.

Discover more destinations: Almendricos.

Go to the main travel overview: Lorca.