Enjoy our quick guide to Abrucena, a municipality located at the northern edge of the Sierra Nevada in Spain’s Los Filabres which is 70 km north-west of Almeria.
The town’s village centre boasts of narrow and winding streets which then lead to the most significant building in the area: a church built in the 16th century.
Another place that’s worth a visit is the ruins of the Castillejo which is nestled on the river banks that face the village.
This is quite a undiscovered region so you might want to read our list of things to do in Costa Almeria to give you some ideas.
Below we feature an expat interview with José Antonio Latorre of Abrural who covers the Abrucena area.
Specifically, we wanted to learn from José the many reasons why people should consider moving to this area and the value for money they can get once they decide to stay permanently.
Not everyone settles in Spain so we recommend living in Spain for 3-6 months to try it first, you can rent an apartment for this length of time so it is perfect to get the feel of what life would be like here outside of the usual holiday experience.
José, thanks for helping our readers. I guess we should start off by asking what would you say would be the advantages to living in Abrucena compared to other Costa Almeria towns?
Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?
People looking for seaside entertainment with discos, etc, may not find much fun in Abrucena.
What proportion of the local population are Spanish?
95% of the population are Spanish.
What are your favourite things to do in the area?
Trekking and climbing are sports which have become quite popular for tourists in Abrucena. Mycology (mushroom hunting) also attracts hundreds of people every year.
Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?
The bars in the village organise an annual tapas contest, so there is a good selection to choose from. Bar María has become known in the province for its typical local food, and the owner has received some awards as entrepreneur of the year in Almería.
Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?
It’s a small village and there is a local health centre with a GP. There is also a dentist, three small supermarkets, a bank, and other small shops.
Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?
Abla is situated at 2 km. from Abrucena, and Fiñana is at 10 km. Abla is the same size as Abrucena, but Fiñana is bigger.
What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?
There is a public primary school in Abrucena, and there is a bilingual secondary school in Fiñana. It’s bilingual in English and Spanish.
Is crime an issue for expats?
The crime rates in Abrucena are quite low compared to other places in the province.
Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?
Since prices went down abruptly about five years ago, they have increased very little, or nothing at all.
Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?
It’s a very good moment to buy property in Abrucena, since it’s becoming more touristic every day, and the prices are still quite low.
What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?
There aren’t urbanizations in Abrucena because, being within a Natural Park, building has been restricted to a closed area surrounding the village.
How much are the typical property prices in Abrucena for apartments, villas etc?
A three-floor house with terrace, with about 240 square metres built, can be purchased for about 60,000 euros.
Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Abrucena or surrounding area?
There are houses in Abrucena which offer spectacular views of Sierra Nevada and the surrounding villages, so it’s better to look for one of these houses.
José, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact him, you can find his details below.
C/ Aguila Baja, 67
Abrucena, Almeria
Tel. +34 950 350 019; and
+34 620 198 036
Email: info@abrural.com
Website: Abrural.com
Don’t forget if you are thinking of making the move to Spain we answer many of your frequently asked questions such as can I drive my friends car in Spain? or what are the best places to retire in Spain?
Here’s an interesting tourist video on Abrucena.
Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.
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