Villarrodrigo

Nature

Although Villarrodrigo does not belong to the Natural Park of the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and the villas, its municipal term is in the same foothills of the park, and has a variety and a landscape wealth that we want to highlight:

• Via Verde Sierra de Segura.The route of the old Baeza Railway - Use its steps in the province of Jaén in the region of the Sierra de Segura. Camino de la provincia de Albacete is developed in a landscape of lomas and hills dominated by the olive grove. And one of its sections goes through the natural park Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas.

The best option to know the fauna and vegetation of this town is to travel some of the many paths that exist in the term. One of the most representative would be the path from Siles to Villarrodrigo, which links these two localities and can be taken on foot.

It is characteristic of a varied landscape of low and half mountain, between olive groves and pineapples of carrasco and black pine, with abundant Mediterranean sotoforested, splashed with beautiful walnuts, complaints and pineapples.

We can also observe well-preserved river vegetation.

We highlight the Recreative area of the Bear Dehesa, with fountains and large walnuts, from where you can start the rise to Cambrón by a signposted path.

The Bayona Recreative Area is also close, where we can take a bath in the summer.

Between the Dehesa del Oso and Villarrodrigo, there are two sections from which we can enjoy a wide view of the Natural Park and where the summits of the Banners, the Lies, The Spot and Yelmoand the albaceteñas Alcaraz saws and Calar of the World.

In the vicinity of Villarrodrigo you can see the last eastern foothills of Sierra Morena and the transition landscape formed by dehesas.

The corvids are abundant, like the lard and the corneja, as well as the boar. In the area of the Cambrón there is a colony of leonate vultures.

Parties and Events

Many of their traditions are preserved in Villarrodrigo, making them the best of their cultural heritage.

• San Antonio, January 17. That day the fires on the streets around which roast potatoes are eaten and the calls are distributed "charities of San Antón", great roses that are delivered in the parish church. It is customary to walk home animals around the church in a sign of thanksgiving for the protection provided to them throughout the year.

• By Santa Ana, there are also popular celebrations in which fires are lit and a bread of charity is distributed among the neighbors.

• San Marcos the day is celebrated 25 April. This day goes out to the field to "Tie the devil."which consists of making a knot in a handful of green sows of the seed without breaking the rods of the mine. On this same date a bake is prepared which is known as "San Marcos rosco."

• Romeria de la Virgen de Fatima. The most near Sunday to the 13th of May is the pilgrimage in honor of the Virgin of Fatima. The Romeo carry to shoulders over 5 km. the image of the Virgin to the place known as El Losal. There is currently a hermitage in this place built in 1993. In the afternoon the image returns in procession to the parish of San Bartolomé.

• Romeria de San Bartolomé, August 24. It is celebrated in honor of the pattern, under whose advocation is the Parish Church. After the religious trades the patron is processed through the streets of the town.

• Patrons in honor of the Virgin of Albanchezheld on 24 September. In that morning, the image of Our Lady comes out in procession and then there is a solemn Eucharist that brings together a large number of devotees.

• Romeria of the Virgin Miraculous. The neighbors of Onsares have celebrated the last Sunday of May for almost a century, in an incomparable framework between pine and olive trees, the rosemary of the Virgin Miraculous. She was proposed by a teacher from this village to the civil and religious authorities, so that children could celebrate their first communion. The parish priest of Villarrodrigo donated a size of the Virgin, building a hermitage where it is venerated today.

Gastronomy

Villarodrigo's gastronomy preserves all the uses and forms of the region's cuisine.

Among the products of the massacre are the "white bruises," who do not carry blood and "black bruises," they do. With the pig's liver, the "jopringa".

Another dish, inherited from the pastoral cuisine, are the Galians.

Owner of the serrana cuisine is the dish called "Gachamita," made with potatoes and flour. The "garlic atao," It's a serrana sauce. The "sweet gazhas," that are very typical of all Saints' day food.

All these meals are usually accompanied by traditional drink, "crow," a mixture of wine, water, sugar and fruits.

History

From the Roman era, several rock inscriptions have been found in the area known as the Higuericas and identified as an ancient necropolis.

A lawsuit held in 1238 between the Order of Santiago and the Archbishop of Toledo for the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the then Albadalejo de la Sierra (now Villarrodrigo) and other populations, indicates the existence of churches and a stable Christian population, assisting the disappearance of the Muslim population.

In the 13th century, the emir of the taifa of Murcia signed the capitulations of Alcaraz with King Fernando III. The territory of Villarrodrigo is thus integrated into the Corona de Castilla within the Kingdom of Murcia.
Since the mid-13th century, the Sierra de Segura remained under the Lord of the Order of Santiago, being divided into four ensembles (socio-economic institutions).

Villarrodrigo is located within the geographical space that maintains the Segura de la Sierra, in the so-called Levante corridor characterized by a soft relief that augurs a good agricultural land.

Until 1568 it was known as Albadalejo de la Sierra. On that date, King Philip II granted him the privilege and civil and criminal jurisdiction of first instance, in addition to the change of name, to be called Villarrodrigo, as a tribute to Jorge Manrique's father, Don Rodrigo master of the order of Santiago who conquered and lived in this population.