Galera: what to see, Castellón Alto, Tútugi and museum

Galera allows you to combine an archaeological museum, a Bronze Age town and an Iberian necropolis. There are three different visits: first organize the appointments at the sites and then fit in the museum and the walk through the town.

Castellón Alto: a town of the Argaric culture

The enclave file of the Junta de Andalucía places Castellón Alto between 1900 and 1600 BC. C. and links it to the culture of El Argar. The settlement occupies terraces on a hillside: its homes and funerary spaces help to understand how the community was organized.

The Provincial Tourist Board indicates that the visit is guided and must be arranged in advance with the Galera Museum. Contact before traveling, also if you are traveling in a group, and confirm the time, duration, meeting point and rate applicable to your date.

The site is in the area of Carrachila. Ask where to leave the car and what access is like on foot. If you need a tour without steps or slopes, ask for specific information before booking.

Iberian Necropolis of Tútugi

Tútugi belongs to another historical stage. The enclave file describes funerary structures with tumuli and nine tombs restored for the visit. Do not confuse this Iberian complex with the Argaric homes and burials of Castellón Alto.

Check with the museum if you can visit both locations on the same day and book each visit that requires it. Confirm meeting points and how to get between them. Leave room for routes and follow the staff’s instructions on the allowed route.

Galera Museum and remains of grave 121

The Geopark file published by the Provincial Council places the museum in the old chapel of the Convent of the Nuns of Cristo Rey. Its route brings together archeology and an ethnographic section dedicated to wine, esparto grass, hemp and the cave dwelling.

Among its pieces are the partially mummified human remains from tomb 121 in Castellón Alto, known as the Galera mummy. Their interest is in conservation and what they contribute to the knowledge of Bronze Age funerary practices.

The Lady of Galera: reproduction and original

The local museum shows a reproduction of the Dama de Galera. To learn about the original piece, consult the informative study of the National Archaeological Museum: it explains its discovery in 1916 in tomb 20 of Tútugi and its function as an alabaster liturgical vessel.

The piece represents a female figure sitting between two sphinxes. The MAN suggests that it could have been manufactured in a Phoenician city, before being incorporated into the trousseau of an Iberian tomb from the second half of the 5th century BC. C. Distinguish the reproduction that you can see in Galera from the original piece preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid.

Museum hours and contact for visits

The Directory of Museums of the Board publishes the address Calle San Marcos, 9, and the telephone number 958 739 276, with these hours:

Confirm possible changes and holidays by phone. This schedule corresponds to the museum; Book visits to the sites separately. When contacting, ask about the rates for each space, reductions, conditions for minors and the availability of guided tours for your date.

Walk, cave houses and organization of the day

After the arranged visits, reserve time for the urban area. The ethnographic section of the museum offers context to understand the excavated architecture: private homes require permission from their occupants to access.

If you choose a cave accommodation, check its specific conditions: entrance, steps, ventilation, air conditioning and parking. Ask about the interior temperature and equipment for the time of your stay. To eat, check open establishments and make reservations when you need to.

If you travel without a car, decide how to arrive in Galera, how to get to the enclaves, and how to return before setting appointments. Confirm with the operator the stops and times of your day.

The Galera City Council publishes the telephone number 958 739 071 and the email consultas@ayuntamientogalera.es, with headquarters at Plaza Mayor, 8, 18840 Galera. Their published hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Consult local information and contacts to prepare your tour.