Situated fifty-five kilometers northeast of the capital city Almería, Sorbas is a Spanish municipality with approximately 2,800 residents. While not a large town, it is certainly bigger that some of its neighbours.

 

Sorbas offers a few intriguing sites for the interested traveller. You can enter the town by car, or travel on the relatively new Mediterranean Rail Way. The town is nestled into the surrounding mountains, so expect the travel to be rather windy with plenty of uphill and downhill roadways.

The Moors shaped the future of Sorbas. They named the town “Sorbas,” which oddly enough translates to “You Suck” in English, but this was not their intention. The truth is that Sorbas, especially back then, meant “Sand Pot.” The soil within Sorbas is incredibly dry, and the Moors mined the vast amounts of dried clay. This dried clay was used to build many of the homes within the area. Clay powder was also used for pottery. The remnants of Moorish kilns are still visible today.

 

In the late 1400s, Christian armies advanced on many southern towns. They waged a battle against the Moors and met with success. The Catholic armies dealt with many revolutions, but they maintained control of Sorbas.

 

Almost one century later, the Moors gave up on any hope of regaining control. They moved on to other areas leaving their homes vacant. Suddenly, Sorbas had little population left to sustain the former industrial base.

 

In 1570, Catholic kings persuaded some people to establish their homes in Sorbas. In exchange for a free home, the people were asked to rebuild the towns and pay tariffs to the king. This helped reestablish Sorbas as a growing community where one could establish an excellent home.

The seventeenth century Church of Santa Maria is home to a large clock tower that sits high above the rest of the landscape. This beautiful clock tower makes for impressive photographs.

 

The Pottery District is located within walking distance of the church. These remnants of some Moorish kilns (clay ovens) are visible to any intrigued visitor.

 

Another intriguing historical site is the House of the Duke of Alba. The house and its surrounding scenery bring much joy to any traveller.

 

On the outskirts of town, the Cave of the Treasures dates back many centuries. Archaeologists love this site. The company who owns the cave system welcomes tourists of all ages.

Sorbas statistics show that approximately one-half of the town’s population work for a living. Thirty percent of those workers hold jobs within the town’s largest industry - agriculture.

 

The community’s revenue relies on olives, almonds, and assorted grains. All three crops thrive in the dry soil. This is important, as summers tend to be warm and extremely arid.

 

Beyond agriculture, a few construction firms and auto mechanics are located within the town of Sorbas. These businesses typically employ family members, but they do bring much needed revenue into the municipality.

Meat products are important in Sorbas. Blood sausage, Jamones, garlic sausages, and salchichón are all available at local butchers. The sausages not only taste incredible, but their freshness cannot be argued.

 

Remojón is a light and refreshing salad. Slices of salt cod are tossed with onions, olive oil, oranges, and some greens. The resulting salad is perfect for a hot summer’s night!

 

In the wintertime, gypsy pot is popular. This stew blends fall and winter root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, onions) with pumpkin and seasonings. The subsequent product is tender and delicious.

If you come to Sorbas looking for plenty to do at night, you will be incredibly disappointed. Presently, there is one community bar. The bar is small and fills up quickly.

 

You will not find dance clubs within Sorbas. If this activity is important to you, you should plan to spend time commuting to a larger municipality.

Sorbas is a small community spanning approximately twenty square kilometers of land. The town does not offer a large amount of activities for the tourist, but it is excellent for those wanting to relax for a day or two. The town has one restaurant and a couple of small inns.

 

If you are coming to Sorbas with your family, you will be relieved to know that there are a number of very good schools and a few decent doctors. Shopping is limited, but neighbouring towns have plenty to offer.