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Alcalá la Real

December 15, 2023

Alcalá la Real is a city in the province of Jaén, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE), the city has a population of 22,129.[2]

Alcalá la Real
city
View of the city
Seal
Alcalá la Real
Location in the Province of Jaén
Alcalá la Real
Location in Andalusia
Alcalá la Real
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 37°27′N 3°55′W / 37.450°N 3.917°W / 37.450; -3.917
Country Spain
ProvinceJaén
ComarcaSierra Sur de Jaén
Government
 • MayorMarino Aguilera Peñalver (PP-A)
Area
 • Total262 km2 (101 sq mi)
Elevation
918 m (3,012 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total21,758
 • Density83/km2 (220/sq mi)
DemonymAlcalaínos
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography edit

Alcalá la Real is situated 71 kilometres (44 mi) from the provincial capital, Jaén, and 53 kilometres (33 mi) from Granada, on the slopes of La Mota, a hill in the Sierra Sur. It has an area of 261.36 km².[3] The town is dominated by a large Moorish fortress around which, some centuries ago, the settlement evolved. Alcalá la Real is connected to the Guadalquivir valley via the Guadajoz tributary.

 
Aerial view of the La Mota fortress

History edit

Remains from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age show a human presence in the area in prehistoric times. It has been hypothesized that this was one of the last places inhabited by Neanderthal man. Despite the presence of remains from the Iberians, dating to the late Bronze Age, the first traces of urban structures (perhaps identifiable with the ancient Sucaelo) date to the Roman times. Archaeological findings include a marble statue of Hercules, now in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain at Madrid.

After the Muslim conquest in 713, the town was renamed Qal'at (قلعة), an Arabic term meaning "fortified city". In the following centuries, Umayyad caliph Al-Hakam II (971–976) had a series of watchtowers built to defend the city from the Viking/Norman incursions; today 12 of the 15 original towers remain. Around the year 1000 the principal tower, the Mota, became a true fortress, one of the mainstays of the Al-Andalus defence against the Christian Reconquista. In the 12th century it was the fief of the Banu Said family, and became known as Qal'at Banu Said, or Alcalá de Benzaide[4] in Christian sources.[5]

After the dissolution of the caliphate and its fragmentation in a series of taifa small kingdoms, Qa'lat was a stronghold of the Kingdom of Granada. From here numerous raids were launched against Jaén and other frontier areas of the Kingdom of Castile. The city was finally captured on 15 August 1341 by Alfonso XI of Castile, who granted it the title Real (Royal), which after that was part of its name.[6]

Alcalá remained under the jurisdiction of Jorquera until 1364, when king Peter I gave it the privilege of a Government Council, under the royal crown and the state of Villena. It was elevated to the rank of city in 1432 by king John II. After a flourishing period, the conquest of Granada in 1492 stripped Alcalá of its strategic importance. The population started to move from the upper hill to the now safer slopes, thus gradually creating the current settlement. The city remained under the marquesses of Villena until the early 16th century, when the centralism introduced by the Catholic Monarchs started to reduce the power of the barons, although the marquisate remained in existence until the 19th century. The depopulation of the La Mota hill ended after the Peninsular War against the Napoleonic troops who occupied the fortress from 1810 and 1812. On retreat the Napoleonic forces set fire to the upper city, resulting in partial destruction of the Abbey Church.[citation needed]

During the Spanish Civil War, Alcalá was taken by the Nationalists, who held it until the end of the conflict. The city suffered considerable destruction, due to its vicinity to the hostilities.

Main sights edit

  • La Mota fortress, of Islamic origin, on the hill with the same name
  • Alcazaba, a fortified precinct with a triangular shape, with three towers
  • Murallas, a line of walls with several towers,
  • Palacio Abacial (18th century), now housing the Museum of Alcalà la Real
  • Pilar de la calle Oteros, a monumental plinth for water from 1746
  • Pilar de la Mora
  • Pilar de los Álamos (1552)
  • Pilar de la Toquela (1517)
  • Roman bridge on the Guadalcoton river, nearby the city
  • Batmale House (Early 19th century)
  • Casa Pineda, a Muslim edifice in stone, recently restored
  • Ayuntamiento (Town Hall)
  • Convent of san José de los Capucinos (17th century), now housing municipal offices and a library
  • Iglesia Mayor Abacial (main Abbey church) with towers, built in 1530
  • Church of San Domingo de Silos, in Gothic-mudéjar style (1341), with a 16th-century tower
  • Church of San Juan (15th-18th centuries)
  • Iglesia de las Angustias ("Church of the Pains") from 1747.
  • Iglesia de Consolación (16th-17th centuries)
  • Church of San Antonio (1753)
  • Convento de la Encarnación (1630), in Baroque style

Economy edit

The economy is mostly based on olives and oil production. Other resources include cherries, shepherding, craftsmanship, plastic industry and metalworks.

The city's economy is growing at reduced speed if compared to the neighbouring towns, and numerous young people from Alcalá la Real move to Granada in search of jobs.

Twin towns edit

External links edit

  • English language Guide to Alcalá La Real. (in English)
  • Alcala La Real: Con Pasión (in Spanish)

References edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcalá la Real.
  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ "Nomenclátor: Población del Padrón Continuo por Unidad Poblacional a 1 de enero". Instituto Nacional de Estadística (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  3. ^ . Instituto Nacional de Estadística (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  4. ^ Harvey, L. P. (1992). Islamic Spain, 1250 to 1500. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-226-31962-9.
  5. ^ "History of Alcalá la Real". Consejería de Turismo de la Junta de Andalucía. 2021.
  6. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Alcalá" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 517.
  7. ^ . Ajuntament de Figueres (in Catalan). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2019.

37°27′N 3°55′W / 37.450°N 3.917°W / 37.450; -3.917

December 15, 2023
alcalá, real, city, province, jaén, spain, according, 2006, census, city, population, cityview, cityseallocation, province, jaénshow, province, jaén, spain, location, andalusiashow, andalusialocation, spainshow, spaincoordinates, 917country, spainprovincejaénc. Alcala la Real is a city in the province of Jaen Spain According to the 2006 census INE the city has a population of 22 129 2 Alcala la RealcityView of the citySealAlcala la RealLocation in the Province of JaenShow map of Province of Jaen Spain Alcala la RealLocation in AndalusiaShow map of AndalusiaAlcala la RealLocation in SpainShow map of SpainCoordinates 37 27 N 3 55 W 37 450 N 3 917 W 37 450 3 917Country SpainProvinceJaenComarcaSierra Sur de JaenGovernment MayorMarino Aguilera Penalver PP A Area Total262 km2 101 sq mi Elevation918 m 3 012 ft Population 2018 1 Total21 758 Density83 km2 220 sq mi DemonymAlcalainosTime zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Main sights 4 Economy 5 Twin towns 6 External links 7 ReferencesGeography editAlcala la Real is situated 71 kilometres 44 mi from the provincial capital Jaen and 53 kilometres 33 mi from Granada on the slopes of La Mota a hill in the Sierra Sur It has an area of 261 36 km 3 The town is dominated by a large Moorish fortress around which some centuries ago the settlement evolved Alcala la Real is connected to the Guadalquivir valley via the Guadajoz tributary nbsp Aerial view of the La Mota fortressHistory editRemains from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age show a human presence in the area in prehistoric times It has been hypothesized that this was one of the last places inhabited by Neanderthal man Despite the presence of remains from the Iberians dating to the late Bronze Age the first traces of urban structures perhaps identifiable with the ancient Sucaelo date to the Roman times Archaeological findings include a marble statue of Hercules now in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain at Madrid After the Muslim conquest in 713 the town was renamed Qal at قلعة an Arabic term meaning fortified city In the following centuries Umayyad caliph Al Hakam II 971 976 had a series of watchtowers built to defend the city from the Viking Norman incursions today 12 of the 15 original towers remain Around the year 1000 the principal tower the Mota became a true fortress one of the mainstays of the Al Andalus defence against the Christian Reconquista In the 12th century it was the fief of the Banu Said family and became known as Qal at Banu Said or Alcala de Benzaide 4 in Christian sources 5 After the dissolution of the caliphate and its fragmentation in a series of taifa small kingdoms Qa lat was a stronghold of the Kingdom of Granada From here numerous raids were launched against Jaen and other frontier areas of the Kingdom of Castile The city was finally captured on 15 August 1341 by Alfonso XI of Castile who granted it the title Real Royal which after that was part of its name 6 Alcala remained under the jurisdiction of Jorquera until 1364 when king Peter I gave it the privilege of a Government Council under the royal crown and the state of Villena It was elevated to the rank of city in 1432 by king John II After a flourishing period the conquest of Granada in 1492 stripped Alcala of its strategic importance The population started to move from the upper hill to the now safer slopes thus gradually creating the current settlement The city remained under the marquesses of Villena until the early 16th century when the centralism introduced by the Catholic Monarchs started to reduce the power of the barons although the marquisate remained in existence until the 19th century The depopulation of the La Mota hill ended after the Peninsular War against the Napoleonic troops who occupied the fortress from 1810 and 1812 On retreat the Napoleonic forces set fire to the upper city resulting in partial destruction of the Abbey Church citation needed During the Spanish Civil War Alcala was taken by the Nationalists who held it until the end of the conflict The city suffered considerable destruction due to its vicinity to the hostilities Main sights editLa Mota fortress of Islamic origin on the hill with the same name Alcazaba a fortified precinct with a triangular shape with three towers Murallas a line of walls with several towers Palacio Abacial 18th century now housing the Museum of Alcala la Real Pilar de la calle Oteros a monumental plinth for water from 1746 Pilar de la Mora Pilar de los Alamos 1552 Pilar de la Toquela 1517 Roman bridge on the Guadalcoton river nearby the city Batmale House Early 19th century Casa Pineda a Muslim edifice in stone recently restored Ayuntamiento Town Hall Convent of san Jose de los Capucinos 17th century now housing municipal offices and a library Iglesia Mayor Abacial main Abbey church with towers built in 1530 Church of San Domingo de Silos in Gothic mudejar style 1341 with a 16th century tower Church of San Juan 15th 18th centuries Iglesia de las Angustias Church of the Pains from 1747 Iglesia de Consolacion 16th 17th centuries Church of San Antonio 1753 Convento de la Encarnacion 1630 in Baroque styleEconomy editThe economy is mostly based on olives and oil production Other resources include cherries shepherding craftsmanship plastic industry and metalworks The city s economy is growing at reduced speed if compared to the neighbouring towns and numerous young people from Alcala la Real move to Granada in search of jobs Twin towns edit nbsp Lohfelden Germany nbsp Figueres Spain since 1989 in connection with Pep Ventura who modernized the sardana and it subsequently became the traditional dance of Catalonia 7 He was born in Alcala la Real in 1817 External links editEnglish language Guide to Alcala La Real in English Alcala La Real Con Pasion in Spanish References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alcala la Real This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Alcala la Real news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Municipal Register of Spain 2018 National Statistics Institute Nomenclator Poblacion del Padron Continuo por Unidad Poblacional a 1 de enero Instituto Nacional de Estadistica in Spanish Retrieved 20 February 2019 Poblacion superficie y densidad por municipios Instituto Nacional de Estadistica in Spanish Archived from the original on 21 September 2013 Retrieved 20 February 2019 Harvey L P 1992 Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 Chicago University of Chicago Press p 194 ISBN 978 0 226 31962 9 History of Alcala la Real Consejeria de Turismo de la Junta de Andalucia 2021 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Alcala Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 1 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 517 Figueres i Alcala la Real l agermanament Ajuntament de Figueres in Catalan Archived from the original on 5 August 2011 Retrieved 20 February 2019 37 27 N 3 55 W 37 450 N 3 917 W 37 450 3 917 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alcala la Real amp oldid 1117059705, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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