A wide range of landscapes which range from the valley bottoms, to flat areas and slopes, to the escarpments and mountainsides. These are the surroundings of the noble town of Vélez Rubio, situated at the foot of the Maimón, which dominates the area. Cradle of cultures from the Bronze Age onwards, the Romans settled here, taking advantage of the fact that the Roman road between Carthage and Castulo passed by. Its period of greatest splendour and economic wealth was the 18th and 19th centuries, and it was then that the most important buildings were constructed, characterised by a wide variety of styles.

Of special interest is the architecture of houses and mansions which ranges from the baroque manor houses with robust walls and wrought ironwork on balconies and windows, to modernist or historicist buildings with attractive decoration using tile work and bright colours. The homes of the wealthy led to the creation of a specific style, the so-called Classical Velezano style, with white façades, and highly symmetrical designs in which every balcony and window is very carefully placed.

The heritage of Vélez Rubio becomes even richer when one considers the ruins and remains of earlier civilisations as well as the religious buildings. Of the former, the most notable are the Neolithic site of Cerro de los López and the ruins of the Muslim fort of Cerro del Castellón, in which the remains of an Alcazaba (an Arab citadel) and an interior water system have been preserved.

The Church of La Encarnación, built in the 18th century, is the finest example of the religious baroque style in Almeria. It has been declared a National Monument (1982), and has an ornamental façade, conceived as an altarpiece, crowned by two tall square towers, and an interior altarpiece with rococo motifs.

The Convent of La Inmaculada and its chapel are also good examples of baroque style.

The town also offers a rich and varied gastronomy which chan-ges throughout the seasons. To the local produce such as cereals (and flour), game, vegetables, and pulses, are added typical Christmas dishes such as turkey with rice.

The tortas de bacalao (cod pancakes) is an exquisite dish which is eaten almost exclusively during Carnival, like the chickpea stew with cod which is typical during Lent.