Las Tres Villas town hall

Las Tres Villas town hall, in the province of Almería, Andalusia, is the administrative seat of the small mountain municipality of Las Tres Villas. The building stands in Doña María, one of the three towns that make up this rural district.

What is this municipality?

Las Tres Villas was formed by joining three separate towns — Doña María, Escúllar and Ocaña — under a single administration, and the name itself simply means "the three towns." The municipality covers 85 km² at an altitude of roughly 688 meters, tucked into the mountainous inland of Almería province. Population density is very low, around 6.9 people per km², and the whole district has just 581 residents (319 men and 262 women). It's a clear example of the depopulation affecting many inland Andalusian villages.

Where exactly is the town hall?

The town hall sits at Calle Ventas 6 in Doña María, which acts as the administrative center for the three towns. Doña María, Escúllar and Ocaña lie close together in the Sierra de los Filabres mountain range, roughly 57 kilometers from the provincial capital, Almería — about an hour's drive along local mountain roads.

How do you get there?

A car is by far the easiest option, since public transport in this area is limited and the distances between villages run along rural roads. From Almería, head north into the Sierra de los Filabres toward Doña María. Give yourself extra time: the road winds through the hills and isn't fast, but the scenery along the way more than makes up for it.

What should you know about local government?

Like most small Spanish municipalities, Las Tres Villas has a compact governing structure — a council of 7 members. The mayor is Virtudes Teresa Pérez Castillo, of the PSOE party. The town hall handles administrative matters for residents of all three villages, meaning registrations, local taxes, and official paperwork are all processed here, regardless of which of the three towns someone actually lives in.

What else is there to see nearby?

Beyond the town hall itself, it's worth walking through Doña María and the neighboring villages of Escúllar and Ocaña. These are unmistakably rural settlements set against the backdrop of the Sierra de los Filabres, offering quiet, open space and views far removed from crowded tourist routes. The municipality isn't a major destination in itself, but it makes a worthwhile stop for anyone traveling through inland Almería in search of an unpolished, authentic slice of Andalusian village life.

When is the best time to visit?

Given the altitude (688 m) and mountainous setting, summers here are noticeably milder than on the Almería coast, although daytime temperatures can still climb. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for exploring, with mild days and the Sierra de los Filabres landscape at its best. Winters can turn cold at higher elevations, so it's worth planning accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the town hall itself? It's a working administrative building serving the municipality's residents, so public access is limited to office hours and the usual rules for entering a public building.

How big is the Las Tres Villas municipality? It covers 85 km² and has around 581 residents, making it one of the smaller municipalities in Almería province.

Which towns belong to the municipality? Doña María (where the town hall is located), Escúllar and Ocaña.

How do you get there from Almería? By car is best — head into the Sierra de los Filabres, a drive of about 57 km through mountainous terrain.