Meeting in Hellín - Spain (VII)

APRIL 17th, 2013: On local TV

Meeting in Hellín - Spain (VI)

APRIL 18th, 2013: VISITING "LOS CHORROS"- SOURCE OF RIVER MUNDO ("Los Calares del Mundo y de la Sima Natural Park" in Riópar)

Meeting in Hellín - Spain (V)

APRIL 17th, 2013: VISITING CUENCA (UNESCO World Heritage)

Bridge of Saint Paul

Hanging Houses

Hanging Houses

Hanging Houses

Huécar Canyon

Hanging Houses

Cathedral of Our Lady of Grace and Saint Julian

Medieval streets

Medieval streets

Bishop's Palace

Mangana Tower

Bee orchid

Ophrys apifera

It generally grows on semi-dry turf in grassland, on limestone, calcareous dunes or in open areas in woodland. It prefers calcareous soils, in bright light or dim light

Saltwort

Salsola genistoides

Salsola is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. A common name of various members of this genus (and related genera) is “saltwort”, for its salt tolerance. This plant is an endemic species in the region of Hellin

Mountain tea

Sideritis serrata

Sideritis (also known as “ironwort”) is a genus of flowering plants well known for their medicinal properties. They are abundant in Mediterranean regions. In Greek "sideritis" can be literally translated as "he who is or has the iron". This is an endemic species in the area of Hellin

Teucrium

Teucrium libanitis

Teucrium is a genus of perennial plants in the family Lamiaceae. The name is believed to refer to King Teucer of Troy. These species are herbs, shrubs or subshrubs. They are most common in Mediterranean climates and this one is a new endemic species in the SE Iberian Peninsula.

Thymus

Thymus funkii

The genus Thymus contains about 350 species of aromatic perennial herbaceous plants and subshrubs to 40 cm tall in the family Lamiaceae, native to temperate regions in Europe, North Africa and Asia. Thymus funkii is a new endemic species in the SE Albacete.

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, and is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. The name derives from the Latin words ros marinus, which translate as dew of the sea. The leaves, both fresh and dried, are used in traditional Mediterranean cuisine and medicine.

White asphodel

Asphodelus albus

Asphodel is an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Asphodelus and it is native to the Mediterranean area. In Ancient Greece it was associated with mourning and death.

Violet

Viola cazorlensis

Viola is a genus of flowering in the violet family Violaceae, with around 400–500 species distributed around the world. This plant is an endemic species in the SW of Albacete province.

Opuntia

Opuntia ficus-indica

Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus, is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Opuntia ficus-indica has been introduced to Europe, and flourishes in areas with a suitable climate, such as the southern Spain. The fruit of prickly pears, commonly called cactus fig or "chumbo fig" (higo chumbo) in Spanish, is edible, although it has to be peeled carefully to remove the small spines on the outer skin before consumption

Genista

Genista spartioides ssp. retamoides

Genista is a genus of legumes which includes many species of broom. Many of these brooms are notorious as noxious weeds. Many of the species have flowers that open explosively when alighted on by an insect, the style flying through the upper seam of the keel and striking the underside of the insect, followed by a shower of pollen that coats the insect. The Royal line of Plantagenet is derived from this genus, being a corruption of “planta genista”.

Century plant

Agave americana

This is an agave originally from Mexico but cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant. It was introduced into Europe about the middle of the 16th century and it has since naturalised in many regions and grows wild in SE Iberian Peninsula. The name "century plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower. Tequila is made from certain species of agave.

Butterworts

Pinguicula mundi

Pinguicula is a genus of carnivorous plants that use sticky, glandular leaves to lure, trap, and digest insects in order to supplement the poor mineral nutrition they obtain from the environments. It grows on vertical and wet walls and it is an endemic species in the south of Albacete province.

Maltese fungus

Cynomorium coccineum

It is a parasitic perennial flowering plant in the Cynomoriaceae, a family consisting of only one (or perhaps two) species. A rare or local species, it grows in dry, rocky or sandy soils, often in salt marches or other saline habitats.

Esparto grass

Stipa tenacissima

Lygeum spartum

Stipa tenacissima is a perennial grass grown in northwest Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula employed for crafts (cords, baskets, espadrilles, etc. It is also used for fiber production for paper making.). Lygeum spartum, another species of grass, is also used in combination with true esparto, and is also sometimes called "esparto grass" or albardine. In the last century the manufacture of esparto was very important in Hellín.

Tamborada of Hellin

Not for the faint hearted, The 'Tamborada’ of Hellín, is a very noisy event and is one of the most famous and well-known celebrations in the province of Albacete, where adults and children take to the streets of the town, their number exceeding 20,000 drummers, wearing black tunics with a red neckerchief or a black hood. The first drumming session takes place on the night of the Friday before Palm Sunday, when they celebrate the Via Crucis of the Torches. As a preparation and in order to warm up the drums, an increasing number of drummers head towards the Calvary without their black tunics, in a pilgrimage that lasts until the wee hours of the following day. The Wednesday right before Holy Thursday , at three pm, begins the second big drumming session. All the people flock to the streets, wearing their tunics and carrying their drums and, in groups of friends, they walk through the streets of town until 11 pm, which marks the beginning of the procession of the Oración del Huerto [Prayer in the Grove].

Easter in Hellin

Easter week is one of the most heartfelt and deep-rooted fiestas celebrated in Spain. This commemoration has centuries of history and tradition, remembering the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The streets of the majority of Spain's cities, towns and villages become the stage for religious fervour and devotion, combining grief and meditation in memory of Christ's death. Music, art and colour come together in magical processions - solemn parades in which crowds of people accompany religious images on their route through the street.

Region of Hellin

PDF Campos Hellin