Area Guide for Lubrín, Almeria

Introduction:

Almost 1,700 residents shape the town of Lubrín. One restaurant and one hostel offer lodging and meals to visitors. If you need more of a selection, Lubrín may not fit with your desires.
 
Healthcare options are excellent in Lubrín. The town has a primary and secondary school, and a nice public library, but the best public service is the array of available doctors. Currently, eight separate practices give locals a choice. This benefit helps keep locals healthy and happy. 
 
Unfortunately, this has not kept the population from slowly declining. The lack of available jobs within Lubrín pushes the locals into lengthy commutes to find suitable employment.

History:

Lubrín’s history is similar to other Andalusian towns. The Moors came from Africa and built impressive towns on hillsides. Trade became the method in which they made a living. As many were skilled weavers, hunters, and artisans, they did well in the area. In the late 1400s, their reign ended when Catholic kings claimed the area as their own. Bloody battles led to success for the Christians, and the Moors were killed, imprisoned, enslaved, or fled the area.
 
By the 19th century, mining was the town’s most important source of revenue. Unfortunately, the mines eventually shut down as they were stripped clean of their once rich deposits. This led to a drastic decrease in the population. People needed to move away in search of other jobs.
 
Today, Lubrín is still attempting to recover. Agriculture is a top contributor to the area’s economy, but this form of employment does not offer enough jobs to satisfy the entire community. Many head to other towns and larger cities in search of employment.

Site Seeing:

Perhaps one of the town’s largest tourist attractions is the Monument to the Stonecutter. This marble statue honours the man who helped the town prosper by mining the rich marble deposits from the surrounding mountains and hills.
 
The streets of Lubrín are not to be missed. Narrow cobbled streets are lined by the pristine white houses. Colourful flowerboxes add life to the long rows of housing making for exceptional photographs. Small boutiques draw in shoppers of all ages.
 
Our Lady of the Rosary is a 19th century church that offers impressive Sunday church services.
 
Theatre Sotomayor is a gorgeous former theatre that turned into a cheese factory in the earlier part of the 20th century. It was also the old laundry in past centuries. Today the building is empty, but it still is a site worthy of a visit.
 
In August, the town comes to life with the Festival of the Lights. This launches a month of outdoor theatrical events and concerts.
 
The Fair of October occurs in mid-October. During this event, parades, music performances, and local feasts draw in a large crowd.

Industry:

Within Lubrín, there is only one hostel. The hostel is capable of housing ten people. This business brings in a meager share of the area’s revenue. The one local restaurant also plays a very tiny part.
 
While marble quarries brought plenty of revenue in the past, the quarries have shut down. The marble has been stripped from the mountains and hillsides and the lack of marble caused the area business to shut down.
 
Lubrín’s economy does revolve around agriculture. Cattle ranching is the largest contributor to the local economy. Barley and wheat are key crops in the area. The area farms employ a few locals, but the majority must commute to larger towns and cities.

Gastronomy:

Pork meat, rice, almonds, and wheat berries are staple ingredients in Lubrín’s gastronomy.  Fish is often stewed with tomatoes, garlic, and a variety of herbs and vegetables.  The fish stew is then served with bowls of hot, fluffy rice.  Another popular dish is a stew made from pork meat, tomatoes, spices, and wheat berries.   Desserts such as almond sugar cookies are popular.  Sweet breads are also popular and often contain orange, lemon, or almond for extra flavor.   January 20th launches the Festival of the Bread.  On this day, rolls stuffed with anchovies, blood sausage, or garlic sausages are served in households throughout the region.

Nightlife:

Lubrín does not offer anything for the person seeking an active nightlife. Almería is a little over seventy-five kilometers to the southwest, but this is not an easy drive. If you need busy dance clubs, bars, and restaurants, you will need to head to larger outlying towns and cities.

Summary:

Lubrín is an attractive white town that offers amazing scenery. Rows of the dazzling whitewashed homes offer vibrant contrast courtesy of window boxes with brilliant reds and pinks spilling over the sides. You should not enter Lubrín without a camera in hand.
 
While the town itself may be rather sleepy and tranquil, you will find the lack of activity is extremely refreshing in today’s busy world. Let the stress attributed to jobs and lifestyles wash away during your visit to Lubrín.

Useful Business Links for Lubrín:

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