by Helen Llewellyn 
Spend any time in Almeria and you will not fail to come across the Indalo. The symbol, synonymous with the region, appearing to show a human figure holding a rainbow in its arms, spreading over its head.
The Indalo, the official symbol of Almeria, is based on a Bronze Age magical symbol found in the cave of ‘Los Letreros’ in Sierra de Maria-Los Velez Natural Park, in Almeria. The markings found in the cave are believed to date back 4,500 years, although the symbol itself is said to go back even further into Neolithic times.
The legend goes that the Indalo was a ghost who could carry a rainbow in his hands, spreading good luck and health, especially when the symbol is offered to others as a gift.
Alternatively, it is believed that the Indalo symbol is based on the tale of a man who sheltered in a cave to escape the rain. When the rain stopped, a rainbow came out, and then when the man walked away from the wall of the cave the image remained.
The Indalo is particularly associated with Mojacar, where its resurgence in popularity coincided with a rebirth of the area and a change in its fortunes. De-population of Mojacar in the mid-19th century was reversed by an influx of artists attracted by the natural beauty of the area. One such artist, Jesús de Perceval, founded the Movimiento Indaliano for like-minded artists, writers, poets and musicians in the 1950s, choosing the symbol as its emblem. As Mojacar became renowned as an artists’ colony, the Indalo symbol developed as a local emblem.
With the changing fortunes of the region, attracting more tourists to the sandy beaches of Mojacar, the Indalo was used by businesses as a symbol of luck in the area, before gradually developing as a provincial emblem. Now, the Indalo can be found on jewellery, pottery, t-shirts and key rings throughout Almeria… always lucky and always as items to be gifted to others.
