Torres de Albanchez

Nature

Most of the municipal term Torres de Albanchez is included in the Natural Park of the Serras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas.It is an eminently agricultural municipality, although it also has an important forest area located in the north of the city.

It's framed by limestone of 1200 and 1300 m of altitude, which by being limestone accumulate water, giving rise to more than 30 natural springs that we can visit the time we discover their villages. Among them we highlight the spring of Fuente Vieja, that of Fuente Larga and Fuente Bellia, from which We can see excellent panoramic, the Valle del Guadalimar and its tributaries, where it stands out the River Onsares, with fertile red triasic clays in which pine forests, olive groves, self-consumption cultivation gardens, pastures and bushes are transformed with the passage of the seasons. From its inclined streets can be seen peoples how Orcera, Siles and Segura de la Sierra.

Places that must be visited:

• The village of Fuentefrera offers us the opportunity to contemplate beautiful panoramic views of the Natural Park. Near the settlement, we can visit the source of Fuentecolda spring located at the foot of Mount La Cordera.

• The Tala and the Hoya, are two villages practically abandoned. The house is preserved, although already with remarkable flaws and some buildings in a ruinous state. Nearby you can visit the cave of La Tala and the cave of the Coto.

• El Cerro del Castillo, is a natural enclave located at 1145 m high, from which we can enjoy impressive panoramic views of the Natural Park and the urban core.

• The Hermitage of the Virgin of the Way, is located at the foot of the mountain Picarzo (1296 m.), this enclave has a natural water source, and is the ideal starting point for starting the routes that take us to the Natural Park.

Parties and Events

The parties in this municipality include:

• La Candelariaon the 2nd of February, a feast in which the custom of making "lumbres" continues, around which you sing, dance and drink.

• "The Eight of Torres," the name whose origin is to be sought in the ancient tradition by which every 8 May the Virgin of the Field was brought from her hermitage to the parish church, where she was to remain until 8 September, when she returned to her hermitage. Dates that were modified in 1968, going on to the last Sunday of May and the last of August, respectively, to facilitate the attendance of other migrant turreños to the party.

• The Virgin of the Field, is held in the first days of September, in which are very traditional the taurino celebrations, following the serrana tradition.

• San Marcoson April 25, when the Holy One is asked to bless the fields and to "fear the devil."

• Our Lady of the Presentationunder his title is the parish and whose religious feast is held on November 21.

• Romeria de la Virgen del Campo. The last Sunday of May. During her celebration she goes up with the Virgin to her hermitage, to spend the summer there. Then, at the end of the summer, it must be transported back to the village with another Romeria that is celebrated last Sunday of Augustso that the Virgin may remain in her church during the feast that is held in early September.

Gastronomy

It must be made clear that in the country's gastronomy it is called "garlic" to any stew in which the ingredients are crushed or crushed until they acquire the texture and appearance of a mashed, whether or not it has garlic.

Among the most traditional dishes, we highlight:

• "Ajoatao." Prepared with cooked and crushed potatoes, linked in the mortar with olive oil from the ground with eggs and garlic. It is usually taken either in a slice of roasted bread, or as a garrison of the meat at the roast, like the following lamb.

• "Ajoharina." It is a very old stew of flour, potatoes and a saffrito of vegetables, it weighs all in a frying pan.

• "Ajopringue." It is made with the pig's liver once cooked and crushed that is served with olive oil, tomato, red peppers, garlic, parsley, bread miga and species: nail, oregano, pimenton and saffron.

• Lome of orza. Which has already been preserved in olive oil or butter. He'll be present at the table all year.

• Migas, with chorizo and turrezos.

• Lamb to the young shepherd, Pastor chandelier or the lamb garlic cabañil, dishes that originate from the pastors, who used the meat of the following sheep.

• Chickpeas. To consume preferably at Easter, and that in addition to the chickpeas is added spinach and cod.

In pastry shops:

• "Fried roses." and "flowers" with sugar or honey for Easter days.

• "Sweet peas with toast" for the day of All Saints, accompanied by milk or honey.

History

The occupation of the area dates back to the Copper age, III millennium BC, a time when the consolidation of agriculture and the development of mining and metallurgy will take place, leading to an increase in the number of settlements.

The Guadalquivir Valley will be a natural transit area of communication to Levante and the Plateau. For this reason, many settlements will be located in this area of communication, and will have a strategic mission to control these routes.

During the development of the Iberian culture, there is a restructuring in the territory that is characterized by the "oppid," fortified settlements in which an aristocrat exercises power.

It will be with the arrival of Roman civilization when the "oppid" are again transformed into rural settlements called "villae"

This settlement is known as Yedra Castleof which remains are still preserved such as masonry walls or aljibes, and which could be related to a hisponovisigoda community, that after leaving the vegas of the Guadalimar between the centuries V and VII, are established in this strategic place of the Sierra de Torres de Albanchez.

On the Islamic past of Torres de Albanchez there are virtually no signs, just that was conquered to the Muslims on 1 May 1235, integrating the castle and the place in the Encomienda de Segura, belonging to the Military Order of Santiago.

It will be this Military Order that promotes a new settlement in the current location, and they build the defenses on a rocky promontory.

It's in the middle of the 16th century, in 1552, when Torres de Albanchez achieve Segura de la Sierra segregation, giving Philip II the title of the villa.

During the 19th century, a demographic expansion began, with 1226 inhabitants in 1900.

The rotating phenomenon by which the mountains become farmland was an increase in the cultivated area, mainly dedicated to the cereal at the cost of the reduction of pasture and mountain. The population growth increased significantly in 1940 to have 2626 inhabitants.

From these years, in the middle of the post-war period, in Torres de Albanchez, emigration to the large Spanish cities or to countries of Europe began, thus decreasing the population.