Alcuéscar

Alcuéscar is a municipality ( municipio ) in the southwest of Spain, in the province of Cáceres in the autonomous region of Extremadura. It was as a cultural ( Bien de Interès Cultural ) recognized in the category Conjunto histórico - artístico.

Location

Alcuéscar is located about 37 km ( driving distance ) north of Mérida; the provincial capital of Cáceres is located nearly 42 kilometers to the north.

Demographics

Its largest population with 4,500 persons reached Alcuéscar in 1940. During the 19th century, the population fluctuated 2500-3500 people.

Economy

In the area around Mérida wine and olive is cultivated since Roman times. The cultivation of wheat and other crops used to serve mainly the self-sufficiency; in addition, there are many unprocessed areas due to lack of water. Due to the mechanization of agriculture, the population of the town has declined sharply in the second half of the 20th century.

History

Despite its proximity to Merida ( Emerita Augusta) no Roman traces have been discovered on the territory of the municipality so far. Located near the town of Santa Lucía del Trampal comes, however, probably of Visigothic period (ca. 700). Shortly after the Islamic armies conquered the country. Although clear evidence ( documents, etc. ) are missing, the foundation of the town is defined by Mozarabic Christians to the year 830. In the year 881 Alfons dared III. of Asturias, a foray into the area, but had to retire again due to intense opposition. Only after the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, the area finally fell into Christian hands. His complete re-Christianization took ultimately up to the time of the Catholic Kings ( 1500). The local archives there is a document from 1602 in which the city Alcuéscar rights are allocated.

Attractions

• The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is one -nave building from the 16th and 17th centuries. Noteworthy is the renaissance time portal on the south side, which is framed by two massive buttresses. The interior is covered by a barrel vault with lunettes.
• In the village are several stately houses with coats of arms ( casas señoriales ) that belonged to wealthy landowners in the majority. The Casa de la encomienda, however, was owned by the Order of Santiago.

• About three kilometers south of the town is the exact hewn from - probably from a Roman temple dating - attached stones and not least well-preserved church of Santa Lucía del Trampal, which is attributed despite the absence of pronounced horseshoe arches of the Visigothic architecture. The single - built of rubble - nave of the church was rebuilt in the 15th century in simple Gothic style and covered with a wooden gable roof, resting on arches. This is followed by the native of Visigothic period transept connects to which the east three separate apses were added from each other with a flat end.