Molino de los Díaz

Molino de los Díaz is a 19th-century windmill standing in the Los Molinos neighbourhood of Almería, one of the last surviving witnesses to an era when this part of the city was dotted with similar structures built for grinding grain.

Where is Molino de los Díaz located?

The mill stands in the Los Molinos district of Almería, a name that is no coincidence. In the 19th century this area was known as "Paraje Molinos de Viento" — literally "windmill grounds" — because so many similar mills once stood here, used by local farmers and millers. Today Molino de los Díaz is one of the few surviving examples of that landscape and a recognisable landmark for residents of the surrounding neighbourhood.

When was the windmill built, and by whom?

The structure was raised in 1849 at the initiative of Gaspar Núñez. It was built on rocky, stony ground surrounded by cultivated fields — a typical location for wind mills of the period, which needed open space with reliable exposure to the wind.

What does the architecture look like?

The building follows the Mediterranean mill type, characteristic of the southern Spanish coastline. Its core is a cylindrical tower with thick masonry walls rising to about seven metres. At the top sits a "rueda terrera" — a rotating ground wheel — on which a four-metre-high cap, or chapitel, was mounted. This upper section could turn to align the sails with the wind direction, allowing millers to adjust the whole mechanism without altering the tower itself.

What happened to the mill in the 20th century?

The building's fortunes changed in 1959, when Octavio Díaz Gálvez turned it into the emblem of his business — from that point on the mill became known as "de los Díaz," tying the milling tradition to the neighbourhood's commercial life. In 1987, Díaz Gálvez handed the mill over to the city of Almería, intending it to remain a living record of the cultural heritage of Los Molinos for future generations of residents.

Can visitors see it today?

After years of use and change, the mill underwent rehabilitation work that restored its place in the city's landscape. It also takes part in local events — it returned to the Feria de Almería, the city's annual fair, after an absence of fifteen years, underlining its status as a recognisable symbol of the district. Molino de los Díaz today links the region's agricultural past with the identity of the Los Molinos neighbourhood, though it is not run as a formal tourist attraction with fixed visiting hours — it is worth checking current access on site before a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is Molino de los Díaz? In the Los Molinos neighbourhood of Almería, an area known in the 19th century as "Paraje Molinos de Viento" because of the number of windmills that once stood there.

When was the windmill built? In 1849, at the initiative of Gaspar Núñez, on rocky ground surrounded by cultivated fields.

Where does the name "de los Díaz" come from? From Octavio Díaz Gálvez, who in 1959 made the mill the emblem of his business and in 1987 handed it over to the city of Almería.

What architectural style does the mill represent? The Mediterranean mill type, with a cylindrical masonry tower about seven metres high and a rotating mechanism — the "rueda terrera" with its four-metre cap — at the top.