Situated inland, only one hour’s drive from the Costa Almeria and one and a half hours from the ski resort of Granada, Los Velez includes two beautiful traditional Spanish towns. The larger of the two, Velez Rubio, sits at the foot of a fabulous “volcano-shaped” mountain and boasts 
a splendid Cathedral in the central square.
Velez Blanco is located a few hundred meters in altitude above Velez Rubio on the mountainside and has stunning views of the Blanco valley and 30kms beyond. It also has a magnificent castle overlooking the town, which is built into the hillside.
The architecture of both towns is traditionally Spanish, consisting of winding, narrow, cobbled streets and bleached white buildings with terracotta roofs. The buildings are well kept and have ornate wooden and iron finishes.
There are a large number of restaurants offering a variety of excellent food for good value in charming surroundings. The businesses are mostly family run and offer a friendly and personal service. Velez Rubio also has good local amenities such as a medical centre, supermarkets, and a large public swimming 
pool surrounded by trees, with an adjoining bar and restaurant. Velez Blanco has a beautiful swimming pool and picnic area situated in woodland overlooking the valley.
There are also many fiestas throughout the year in which everybody proudly takes part. Including a week for Semana Santa (Easter), that involves a large procession through the town. There is also a whole month of fiesta in August as the carnival moves from town to town.
The local countryside also has a large variety of wildlife including foxes, wild boar, eagles and other bird-life. This is making for excellent walks and days out in stunning and dramatic scenery. The winters are cold, but short, changing the landscape with snow on the mountaintops and sun-filled skies. The summers are hot, typical of southern Spain, but with a drier microclimate than the coast.
Surrounded by National Parks, green mountainous landscape, Olive and Almond groves Los Velez is the undiscovered jewel of Andalucia.
Video of Velez Rubio
Higher quality version with sound available for download here:
Right Click Here & Select Save Target to Download - approx 9.5mb (Windows Media File)