Ermita de las Ánimas

Ermita de las Ánimas is a small wayside chapel at the entrance to Ohanes, a mountain village in the province of Almería, set on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the Alpujarra region. The chapel stands on Calle Mengemor, right along the road leading into the village centre, and its modest yet distinctive shape catches the eye immediately.

What will you see there?

The chapel has a simple, almost square floor plan and a four-sided tiled roof — a form typical of small religious buildings across the Alpujarra. Above the entrance a plaque carries an inscription asking visitors to pray for the souls in purgatory, which explains both the chapel's name and its original purpose. Inside is an image of the Virgen del Carmen, to whom locals still direct their prayers and petitions.

This is not a grand church but a roadside shrine of the kind that has stood for centuries along the routes connecting Alpujarra villages, meant to watch over travellers and remind them of the souls in purgatory. Lit candles and small offerings inside show that the site is still part of everyday local devotion rather than a purely historical curiosity.

What is the history behind it?

The tradition of building "ermitas de ánimas" (chapels of souls) runs deep in the valleys of the Andarax and Nacimiento rivers, across the provinces of Almería and Granada — a form of popular religiosity that goes back at least to the 16th century. The original chapel in Ohanes stood in a different spot, but it was destroyed by flooding around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was later rebuilt closer to the village itself, in the location where it stands today.

More recently, the building was restored thanks to an initiative led by residents of Ohanes, who contributed money and their own labour to bring the chapel back to its original condition. Thanks to that effort, the ermita has kept its place as part of the village's local identity and living tradition.

How do you get there, and when is the best time to visit?

Ermita de las Ánimas sits right at the entrance to Ohanes, so it's easy to spot when driving into the village from the Andarax valley. Ohanes lies in the mountainous part of Almería province, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, so a car is the most practical way to get there — the roads wind through the hills, but the views over the valley and its terraced vineyards make the drive worthwhile.

Given its small size, visiting the chapel itself only takes a few minutes, but it pairs well with a longer walk through Ohanes — its narrow streets, viewpoints, and the nearby parish church. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, when mountain temperatures are mild and the surrounding hillsides are either green or coloured by the autumn vineyards.

The village offers accommodation and dining options, so the chapel can easily be one stop within a longer stay in the area rather than just a quick photo opportunity.

Why is this chapel worth a visit?

It combines architectural simplicity with the rich folk tradition of the Alpujarra. For travellers interested in local culture and the region's religious history, it's an authentic, uncommercialised stop — without crowds, but with a clear sense that it still plays an active role in community life.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Ermita de las Ánimas located? It stands at the entrance to Ohanes, on Calle Mengemor, in the province of Almería, in the Alpujarra region.

Can visitors go inside the chapel? Yes, the ermita is an active place of worship open to visitors, though as a small chapel it has no fixed opening hours — it's best to check locally or ask at the town hall.

What is the chapel dedicated to? It is dedicated to the souls in purgatory and to the Virgen del Carmen, serving as a roadside prayer site typical of Alpujarra's religious tradition.

Is it worth combining with a visit to Ohanes itself? Yes — the chapel sits at the edge of the village, making it a natural starting or ending point for a walk through Ohanes and its other landmarks.