At the entrance to the town of Abrucena, in the west of the province of Almería, is the Hermitage of the Blessed Souls. It is a small building linked to the local religious tradition and the cult of the souls of Purgatory, a … devotion deeply rooted in different parts of Andalusian geography.
The hermitage was built in 1939at the end of the civil war. It is a simple type of building, rectangular in plan, built in plastered masonry, of a single height and covered with Arabic gabled tiles. At the top stands a wrought iron cross. The interior is dominated by a flowery altar, paintings dedicated to souls and a canvas in front of which neighbors make promises and requests.
The origin of the cult of souls dates back to the Council of Trent, when the Church established the existence of Purgatory as place of transit for souls that they have reached neither paradise nor hell. According to the doctrine, these souls could relieve their pain through the prayers of the faithful. From that moment on, this devotion spread to many territories and also reached this city of Almería.
One of the most common practices in the hermitage is lighting candles known as “butterflies” which, according to popular tradition, serve to illuminate the souls in Purgatory. It is common for visitors to leave a candle as a gesture of remembrance or request.
The Ermita de las Ánimas is located at one of the entrances to the urban center, which gives it a prominent character at the entrance to the city. Despite its size, there remains a point of usual step and a place of prayer for the people of Abrucena.
View of Abrucena with the surroundings of the Sierra Nevada
Abrucena is a municipality of just under 1,300 inhabitants, located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, in a natural corridor that connects the province of Almería to the Marquisate of Zenete, in Granada. It is part of the environment of Sierra Nevada Natural Parka protected area of high environmental value.
The urban layout retains typical characteristics of the towns of Moorish originwith narrow, winding streets and whitewashed houses arranged in terraces. The historic center maintains an irregular structure, adapted to the slope of the land.
The town has a past marked by its strategic location. In 1489 he passed in the hands of the Catholic Monarchsas well as other neighboring towns. Before this time, the territory had been occupied by different cultures, from early Neolithic settlements to Muslim rule. In the El Castillejo area, remains of ancient fortifications and ceramic materials are preserved.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Abrucena was part of a border strip between the towns of Peyyna and Elvira. Its position on the communication route between Almería and Granada gives it a relevant role as a crossing point. After incorporation into the Kingdom of Castile, conflicts arose between the Moorish population and the new settlers, which lasted for decades.
In the center of the town is the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciationof Mudejar origin, built between the 16th and 17th centuries on an old mosque. After a fire, the building was rebuilt in 1828. It has a single nave, side chapels and a tower with a later bell tower. The heritage is completed by the Hermitage of San José and a 16th century mill located on Calle del Agua, considered the only one in the province still in operation.
From the 18th century, the local economy was linked to logging. THE forest wood of the area was intended, among other uses, for the shipyards of Seville and Almería. Currently, the municipality has directed part of its activity towards rural tourism.
Among the places to visit in the surrounding area are the La Roza Recreational Areawith camping areas, barbecues and trails; the Jairola viewpoint, with views of the Sierra Nevada; the Paredes Nature Classroom, dedicated to environmental education; and the Haza Ribera viewpoint, integrated into the Transnevada cycle path.
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