Almeria marble features on new EU cultural route

THE European Union is creating a new European ‘cultural route,’ this time focussing on the marble industry.

In the project, five destinations, famous for their marble, are involved. Attica in Greece with its translucent marble mountains of Penteli, the Walloon region in Belgium with its red and black Rance marble, Lucca in Italy with the white marble of the Apuan Alps, Portugal’s Alentejo with the pink marble of Estremoz and the Almanzora Valley with the white marble of Macael are all included on the new route.

The aim of the initiative is to create and promote a new transnational tourism experience based on a common and industrial heritage, the production of marble in Europe.

In Spain, the project is being carried out by the Association of Municipalities of Valle del Almanzora in collaboration with the Department of Tourism in Macael. The cost to get the area ready is €259,371.89.

The slogan for the campaign is ‘A journey of how a rock grows into a masterpiece’ and during its execution, which is scheduled for January 2016, a route will be created in each of the destinations that allows visitors to experience different aspects of the marble.

Visitors will be able to see ancient quarries, some of which are still in operation. There are museums to browse and displays of artistic pieces made from marble.

A promotional campaign will be launched to ensure maximum visibility at a European level. Macael has already opened a museum and information point for visitors, showcasing different routes and tours focused around the marble industry. Macael is well represented at artisan fairs, showcasing ornaments and gifts made from the white materials.