Lucainena is very pretty village situated in the mountains of Sierra Alhamilla, between Nijar Sorbas and Tabernas. It is only small having a population of of 656 and lies at an altitude of 542 metre above sea level and at 53km from the sea. It is so pretty that it has won awards several years running for being the best kept village in Andalucia and is now on the official list of the prettiest villages of Spain.

Owing to the metals to be found in the hills there have been people living in the area since neolithical times, many roman remains have been found and it is from this period that the village gets its name, from the villa of "Lucanius". In Moorish times the town had a mosque and walls were built around the town and the large tower that was in its centre. The walls were defended by 6 more towers and for that reason became known as Lucainena de las siete Torres (Lucainena of the seven towers).

In the middle ages the town came under the control of don Enrique Enriquez uncle to Ferdinand in recognition for his part in the Christian conquest. His lands in this area were called the Estado de Tahal. Troubles came with the invasion of pirates when 100 Christians were taken hostage and carried across the waters, then there was the rebellion of the Moors followed by their expulsion marking a real low in the population. Things started to improve in the 17th and 18th centuries and the church dedicated to Santa Maria though the patron saint is La Virgen de Montesion. In these times the estates pass to El Marqués de Aguilafuente and the Duque de Abrantes but in the 19th century fiefdoms were abolished and as a result mining proliferates and the village reaches its golden age reaching a population of 2455 inhabitants. Apart from mining metals especially sulphur, there were all sorts of diverse professions lawyers, barristers, notaries, doctors, pharmacists at one side and on the other farmers, leather workers, oil presses, potteries and producers of soap and spirits. There were numerous shops selling amongst othere things, spices, seeds cloth and clothes. The land registry and tax office were installed here as well, all of this accounting for the number of distinguished buildings in the village.

Today you can still see lots of evidence of the mining history and the "Via Verde" (green track) has been developed along the disused train track and is used for walking, cycling or horse riding. Other areas included in the same municipal area are Los Olivillos, Polopos, La Rambla Honda and El Saltador.

As in all villages, the villagers enjoy their Fiestas, the first of the year being the fiesta of San Sebastián held on the weekend of January where "roscos" (bread rings) are thrown as the saint goes through the village.

In the fourth week of July there is a pilgrimage of Saint Santiago and the Virgen de Montesión to Rambla Honda.