HIKING ROUTE TO THE HERMITAGE OF SANTA BÁRBARA (EN)

The route begins next to the bullring, along a narrow path that climbs up to the paved road leading from Rubielos to Fuentes. Rubielos de Mora’s bullring was inaugurated in 1932 and currently has a capacity of 3,000 spectators. The structure is quite unique, as only the first half was ever built, giving it the appearance of a Roman amphitheater. It is classified as a third-category venue and hosts the Puerta del Mediterráneo Festivals in August.

Once on the road, we continue to the right, uphill, until we reach the La Cruz viewpoint. A few meters past the entrance to the viewpoint, on the left side of the road, a wide, steep path emerges, leading to the trail that takes us to the chapel. The uphill path runs through a young, replanted pine forest, so it will provide shade for most of the way. Once you reach an electrical tower, the track becomes a trail, and to the right it leads you toward a pass, where you’ll turn left to continue along a path that gradually narrows and becomes steeper. Once you reach the summit, the route ends at the beautiful ruins of the Santa Bárbara Hermitage.

The small chapel, of which only ruins remain today, dates back to the 15th century and is a structure of masonry and stonework, consisting of a single nave with a gabled roof supported by diaphragm arches. From this vantage point, the panoramic view of Rubielos de Mora and its surroundings is spectacular; you can even see the towns of Nogueruelas and the Santa Isabel Chapel.