The history of Almadén and the whole region has been tied to mining since time immemorial, at least from before the Christian age, when the Romans opened this land to exploit it. Since then, Almadén has produced one third of the mercury consumed by mankind. The town’s life has developed around this intense activity, and our visit will inevitably focus on the traces left behind.

The Almadén Mining Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is living heritage of all this. The visit, which will take at least one day, is the perfect example of how to learn through experience while travelling, a blend of adventure and reading of history that is great fun for the kids.

Let’s put our helmets on and go down into the shafts, tunnels and galleries from the 16th and 18th centuries, to the impressive Baritel de San Andrés (a large winch); or outside, see wells and kilns such as Bustamante, the Carros wall and gate. It’ll be a memorable experience.

In the city, a stroll through the old town showcases the opulence that enabled the construction of important and extremely interesting religious and civil buildings, which include the Bull Ring, which, with its strange hexagonal shape, is unique in the world.

The Retamar Castle, the San Rafael Royal Mining Hospital or the Forzados Jail are other optional visits.