To the north of Almeria, at the eastern end of the Betic Cordillera and within the Sierra María-Los Vélez Natural Park , the Sabina Albar Natural Monument sits on a flat piece of land at more than 1600 metres high.

It is a unique example of Spanish juniper, estimated to be around one thousand years old. It has a very branchy, widespread, dark green canopy that is supported by a thick and sinuous trunk, at the base of which its exposed roots spill out, giving it an even older looking appearance.


This tree remains as a reminder of the steppe forests of the Tertiary period, when the climate was harsh across the continent with strong thermal fluctuations and periods of drought in the summers. For this reason, it is considered a faithful witness of the passing of time in this area.

This slow-growing species has scale like leaves in order to retain water. It produces male and female individuals, whose fruits, called galbuli (fleshy cones), ripen in their second year acquiring a greenish bluish colour. They serve as food for the birds, who then disperse the seeds. It produces sturdy quality wood, rich in resins and highly apt for carpentry and joinery work, one of the reasons why the felling of it was so common in times gone by.

No one should go home without discovering the natural and cultural treasures of the Sierra María-los Vélez Natural Park. The town of Chirivel was a stop off on the old Via Augusta, proven by the Roman archaeological remains found at the Villar site. A 2nd century statue of Dionysus was also found here, a replica of which can be seen on the Paseo de la Alameda. From this point you can also visit the Church of San Isidro or the Casa del Minero.