The Fish Salting Factory in Almuñecar

Situated immediately to the west of the Old Quarter, and under the San Miguel Castle, are the ancient ruins of the Majuelo Fish Salting Factory. It dates from the Phoenician - Punic period of the 4th Century B.C. and was expanded and revamped during the Roman period.

The Majuelo Fish Salting Factory was used by the Romans until the 4th Century A.D. The fish salting industry contributed enormously to the Almuñecar economy in these ancient times, where it is often cited in the classical writings.

Almuñecar salted fish was considered of particular high quality. The Almuñecar fish salting factory's most esteemed product was "garum", a fish paste concocted from entrails that was exported widely throughout the Mediterranean world as a delicacy spread on bread.

The ancient factory was discovered in 1970 during an archeological dig conducted by Manuel de Sotomayor and Enrique Pareja. Once the importance of this find was acknowledged, a further archeological excavation was undertaken by a team of specialists headed by the Almuñecar town archeologist Federico Molina Fajardo.

They went on to unearth practically the whole site which today is known as the beautiful El Majuelo Park, one of Almuñecar's most important attractions.

Visit the Majuelo Botanical Gardens The Majeulo Botanical Garden is known for its hundreds of palms and exotic trees that were brought here from all over the world. There is also an ancient phoenician fish curing factory right at its center.

Tours of the Majuelo Gardens & Fish Factory

FREE Tour of Almuñécar Enjoy Almuñécar by walking through its historic center with this FREE tour. You will visit the church of the Encarnación, see archaeological sites, like the castle of San Miguel... and much more.

Who are we? An American expat with over 20 years of experience living and traveling in Spain, specifically in Malaga and Granada. Darsey is a seasoned explorer of Andalucia. Drawing from decades of immersive experience, she offers deep insights into this enchanting region of Spain, including off-the-beaten path destinations, the best places to stay, and the top bucket list activities to try! More...

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