Maqueda

Maqueda is a Spanish town in the province of Toledo, in the Autonomous Community of Castile -La Mancha. The place is recognized as a National Treasure ( Bien de Interès Cultural ) in the category Conjunto histórico - artístico.

Location

Maqueda is located immediately west of the A5 at an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level. inst nearly 43 km ( driving distance ) north-west of Toledo and about 77 kilometers south-west of Madrid. The nearest major town is Torrijos; it is located about 17 kilometers southeast.

Demographics

The population fluctuated in the 20th century always between 450 and almost 800

Economy

In previous centuries, Maqueda was the artisan and mercantile center of a large number of individual farms and small villages in its agrarian hinterland. The mechanization of agriculture and the decline in prices of staple foods have led in the second half of the 20th century, the abandonment of farms and about a sharp decline in the population.

History

The area around Maqueda divided into essential features of the history of Toledo: On the Romans came the Visigoths; which was followed in 711 by the Arabs and their allies Berber tribes, the territory after successful re-conquest ( reconquista ) in 1085 to the Christians under the leadership of the Castilian King Alfonso VI leonesisch. had to resign. After repeated attacks by the Almohad the area of Alfonso VIII of the control was handed over to by the founded in 1158 Order of Calatrava. In 1530 Charles V created in favor of Diego de Cárdenas y Enríquez the hereditary Duchy of Maqueda ( Ducado de Maqueda ), which exists to the present day.

Attractions

• The main attraction of Maqueda is something standing outside the village of Castillo de la Vela, whose current state dates from the 15th century. His good state of preservation is due to the fact that it was even later used in the Franco era and by the Guardia Civil. Today is still the Museo Histórico de la Guardia Civil housed there.
• The Puerta Califal has a beautiful horseshoe arch and probably once belonged to a Moorish fortress predecessor; today it forms a - going side entrance to the church of Santa María de Alcazares - mostly closed.
• The parish church of Santa María de los Alcazares was founded in the 15th century; the brick tower dates from 1908. both sides of the stairway leading to the south porch are two large arches, formerly owned by a city gate. The interior has three naves; two altarpieces decorate the room, an ancient capital was converted into a baptismal font.
• The to the outside rounded Torre de la Vela with its changing layers of Hau and bricks formerly belonged to an imposing city wall.
• One in Castilian towns more frequently encountered court column ( rollo jurisdiccional or picota ) with four former heads of lions standing on the square in the town center.

From the built in the 15th century and - rare in Spain - by a moat with a drawbridge surrounded Castillo de San Silvestre only are ruins.

Torre de la Vela

Court column ( dishtowels or picota )

Others

The second part of the famous novel Lazarillo de Tormes ( 1554 ) plays in Maqueda.