Set in the heart of the rugged and arid Cabo de Gata, the abandoned gold mines of Rodalquilar are a fascinating and extremely atmospheric spot to visit. The mines experienced a minor gold fever in the 1880s . They were reopened for a brief flash in the pan in 1989, before finally closing a year later. There are a number of abandoned mining cottages in the deserted village of San Diego, though some have been renovated now for tourism accommodation. At the bottom of the slope, the village of Rodalquilar itself is attractive and has a few bars offering cool drinks after a visit to the mines.
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Industrial history of Spain, Mining history of Spain, Places in Andalusia | Tags: Gold fever in Spain, Gold mines in Andaluica, Gold mining in Spain, history of Cabo de Gata, Interesting places in Cabo de Gata, Places in Cabo de Gata|
Las Médulas in the region of El Bierzo were once the site of the most important gold mine in the Roman Empire. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the Ruina Montium, a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder in 77 AD which consisted of undermining the mountain with large quantities of water supplied by at least seven long aqueducts tapping the rivers in the nearby mountains. Today the collapsed mining shafts form an eerie terrain of jagged peaks, gorges and ravines, composing one of the most beautiful post-industrial landscapes in the world. Continue reading
Archaeological sites in Spain, Mining history of Spain, Places in Castilla y León | Tags: Gold Mines in León, Gold mining in Spain, Places to visit in León, Pliny the Elder on Castilla, Ruina Montium, Spanish gold mine in the Roman Empire|
