Olvera
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| Olvera, Spain | |||
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.png/250px-Map_of_Olvera_(Cádiz).png) |
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| Municipality | Cádiz | ||
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| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Francisco Párraga Rodríguez | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 194 km² (74.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 194 km² (74.9 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 0.00 km² (0 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2005) | |||
| - Total | 8,585 | ||
| - Density | 44.3/km² (114.7/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Website: http://www.olvera.es/ | |||
Olvera is a city located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to the 2005 census, the city has a population of 8,585 inhabitants.
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[edit] Overview
The start of the "Pueblo Blancos Route", the city of Olvera is located in the province of Cadiz, specifically in the northwest of the serranía gaditana area, near the borders of the provinces of Seville and Malaga, on 36º56 ' north latitude and 0º16 ' west longitude, at a height of 643 meters above sea level and a land surface of 194 km².
The distance between the capital and the Olvera is 139 km,. The number of inhabitants, according to the INE of 2005, is 8,585 inhabitants, although the number of olvereños is possibly greater as migration to the coast (specifically to the Costa de la Luz) in search of work and they decided to change their address to a place closer to work.
Their environs are full of hills covered with olive trees, from which is extracted one of best olive oils in Andalusia. In fact, in the last years it has achieved the "Denominación de Origen de la Sierra de Cádiz", an idea in which other nearby towns like Setenil, Algonodales, Alcala del Valle, Torre Al-haquime and so on, participate.
Within the municipality is a large colony of Andalusian leonado Vultures in the natural reserve of the "Peñon de Zaframagón", a rock located to the northwest of the town centre at a distance of approximately 14 km. Although olive groves have great importance to the economy, a larger economic source of this colourful place, is the cooperative and the prize "Arco Iris" of 1989 was won , thanks to being the town with the greatest number of cooperatives per inhabitant.
[edit] History
Unfortunately, the lack of specific data and studies into the true origin of the town means it is of conjecture to historians. They think that near to the present city was an establishment named Caricus, about the time of the Celts. Professor Ramos Santana posits that the legendary Cenosia, the original name of Olvera, located near the present city centre, was known as Vallehermoso (beautiful valley), existing at the time of the Visigoths.
In this area, specifically in the mountain range of Sierra de Lijar, were found numerous Roman camps/remains in the summer of 1986. The archaeologist Lorenzo Perdigones compiled a report to show the existence of a Roman establishment in the area, dated, at the end of 3rd century B.C. Also the foundations of the city castle are Roman, found by removing some of the rock of its environs. The name of this establishment could be Ilipa, found by geographically adjusting in a map of Roman Spain, published in 1879, between Morón and Ronda. But the certainly, names such as Hippa and Hippo Nova, etc. Are also likely names of the village.
But the only demonstrably reliable origin is the Muslim establishment in the mid 12th Century to year 1327, the year in which king Alfonso XI wrested it from the Arabs The village was repopulated through a decree issued on the 1 August 1327, in which all criminals had to remain a year within the border of Nazarí. This new acquisition for the King of Castilla was named Olivera to commemorate the sea of olive trees that surround it. With time, the "i" was phonetically lost giving rise to the present name.
Two stately houses had the dominion over Olvera, the last of which was the Duke of Osuña, who was the feudal lord until 1843, when the family went bankrupt.
In 1877 king Alfonso XII granted to the villa the title of “City”, in gratefulness to certain horses that sped him the town of Olvera for one of the Carlist wars. The most recent historic event in Olvera was declared “A Protected Area of Artistic and Historical Importance” in 1983.
Out of interest, the oldest street of Los Angeles, California is called Olvera Street, named after Agustín Olvera, an eminent personage of the city. It is a very popular market, visited by tourists worldwide, who have made the name Olvera a well known word.
[edit] Economy
Nowadays it largely survives through family cooperatives, on agriculture and the construction industry at the coast.
[edit] Monuments of interest
The main monument of this city is itself. A phrase that exemplifies this reality is "OLVERA is a street, a churchand a castle, BUT what a street, what a church and what a castle!", for that reason Olvera was declared “A Protected Area of Artistic and Historical Importance” in 1983.
[edit] The Church
Dominating the area, like the top of a pyramid, is Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (the Parish of Our Lady of the Incarnation) next to the Arabic Castle: it is the vertex of a white expanse of houses amongst olive groves. This church, in neoclassic style, was built by the orders of the Duke of Osuña in 1822 (which created a debt with the Olvera township by not investing the taxes in the improvement of the town) on the foundations of a small gothic- mudéjar (Andalucian Moorish) style church (conserving and incorporating a small baptismal room), which in turn was built on the foundations of an Arabic mosque. The work was finished in 1843, culminating in one of the greatest churches of the province, with dimensions worthy of cathedral. In 1936 republican revolutionaries burnt some of the icons and images along with the interior during the Spanish Civil War. In the interior are several frescos, stain glass windows of great value and images of the different phases of the death of Christ can be found, among them a Crucified Christ from the 16th century, discovered 15 years ago in the cellars of the building. The last restoration started in 1994 being closed to the congregation until the conclusion of works at the end of the 1999. At the moment the greater church of Olvera is again closed, due to a fire lasting 15 hours of an image/statue in September of 2004, leaving the sacred place in lamentable condition. It is hoped that the necessary money will soon be obtained to reopen the church.
[edit] The Arab castle
as it stands was constructed at the end of 12th century, mostly in the 13th, on a strategic rock, giving the ability to communicate with other nearby castles through signals (e.g. reflecting light with mirrors). Its structure was created deliberately to disadvantage enemy to the maximum.
[edit] The Moorish Wall
There exists seven buttresses that support the wall, demolishen of some of the wall has emphasized the "Cilla", which served as a jail and a ducal barn, amongst other uses. Today it is a tourist office and a municipal museum, comprising four display rooms and a patio with a majestic view. In one of its rooms, we can find a permanent exhibition on "the Castles and Strengths of the Nazarí Kingdoms".
[edit] La Villa District
Near these other buildings, in the “Casco Antigüo” (the ancient town center) within the old town walls is la villa (the village). To walk its streets is to travel 700 years back, to when an older Olvera existed. This was where the Visigoth town called Wubira existed. The towns origins are evident here, (narrow streets, strategic corners, old cottages, etc.), exposing the visitor to the old architecture of the Muslim town entwined with the modern.
[edit] La plaza de Andalusia
The plaza, also called "La Alameda" (tree lined area), is one of the places we must not forget to visit, where there is a majestic stone fountain/waterfall constructed in 2004. Above this is el Peñón del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (the Rock of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), a great rock garden full of ivy, flowers, birds and animals. The reason for its name is the Christ statue, with arms raised, on the highest part of the rock carved by Jose Even Navas, in 1929.
[edit] El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Remedies is 2 km from the town centre. It was constructed in the 18th century, in Andalucian style on the foundations of a small hermitage. It venerates the patron of the locality, Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios, who is loved by the town of Olvera and many towns around, known collectively as “las cientos sierras” (the 100 mountain ranges). Unknown persons created an original statue to her during 16th century, which was restored 10 years ago. The head of the statue is in poor condition as the galleries became infested with termites for more than a century, however, the best possible restoration has been applied to it. The Archbishop of Seville, Don Good Jose Maria Monreal, was crowned here in 1966.
[edit] El Monasterio de Caño Santos
Located 7 km from Olvera, it was constructed in 1542. For many years it was the seat of the old patrona of the city, the Holy virgin of Caño, an image kept by the local Franciscan friars who inhabited the interior. In 1835 they were expelled and the monastery confiscated and abandoned. After many years, when the building was all but lost, the council of Andalusia decided to restore it. Although the monument is within the municipality of Olvera, this monastery is property of the city council of Alcala del Valle.
[edit] Demographics
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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8,818 |
8,685 | 8,538 | 8,614 | 8,584 | 8,549 | 8,585 |
Source: INE (Spain)
[edit] External links
- Olvera - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
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