Alarcón
Alarcón | ||
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Bien de interés cultural RI-53-0000247 as a Historic-Artistic Grouping since July 3, 1981[2] | | |
Website | Official website |
Alarcón is a
Geography
Located 87 kilometers (54 miles) south of the city of
Demographics
According to the 2013 municipal registry of the
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History
Of Iberian and Roman origins, Alarcón first appears in recorded history at its occupation by the Arabs, to whom it owes the construction of the primitive castle on which the existing one is based. The history of Alarcón is governed by its role as a stronghold; however, the castle is not the town’s only precious heritage: it also claims a rich architectural variety, both religious (the Churches of Santo Domingo de Silos, San Juan Bautista, the Santa Trinidad, and Santa María del Campo, as well as the Hermitage of Santa María de la Orden), and civil (the town hall, the House of Villena, and the Castañeda Palace).
The town of Alarcón was declared the site of a Historic-Artistic Grouping (Conjunto Histórico-Artistico) on July 3, 1981.
In 1994, artist Jesús Mateo began a project to paint the interior of the old Church of San Juan Bautista, creating the Mural Paintings of Alarcón (1994-2002), which were recognized by UNESCO in 1997 for their global artistic interest.
Notable people
- Juan de Alarcón (1395 – after 1451), Augustinian writer who expounded the Bible at the monastery of his order in Florence, Italy, and at various monasteries in Valladolid and other places
- Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, author of the famous Tales of Count Lucanor(Libro de los ejemplos del conde Lucanor y de Patronio)
- Jesús Mateo(born 1971), Spanish painter and author of the Mural Paintings of Alarcón
Government
Term | Mayor | Political Party |
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1979–1983 | ||
1983–1987 | ||
1987–1991 | ||
1991–1995 | ||
1995–1999 | ||
1999–2003 | ||
2003–2007 | Raúl Poveda Martínez | Partido Independiente de Alarcón (Independent Party of Alarcón, PIA) |
2007–2011 | Jesús Poveda Tévar[8] | Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE, Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) |
2011–2015 | Pedro María Párraga Villajos | Unidos por Alarcón |
2015–2019 | n/d | n/d |
2019–2023 | n/d | n/d |
2023– | n/d | n/d |
Monuments
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2014) |
Castle of Alarcón
Of Muslim origin, this medieval fortress was constructed in the 8th century and conquered by King Alfonso VIII in 1184. The castle sits atop a promontory inside a bend of the Júcar River, creating a formidable stronghold whose battlements provide an impressive view to the border with Valencia. The keep, built around 1460 by Castilian nobleman Juan Pacheco, serves as the fortress’s trademark feature. The historical figure Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena, who wrote the Tales of Count Lucanor, once lived within the castle walls.
The fortress was restored on various occasions throughout its history. In 1963, after years of neglect, the castle was expropriated from the Torrijos family by politician Manuel Fraga Iribarne and subsequently restored by the national tourism organization Turespaña, who opened its doors as a Parador hotel in 1966.[9] Tours of the castle are currently offered by local guides.
Church of Santo Domingo de Silos
This 13th century church was built in the late
Art Center – The Murals of Alarcón; Old Church of San Juan Bautista
The current structure dates from the 16th century as a replacement of the previous Romanesque building. It has a single nave covered with a barrel vault, a portal in the
Church of the Santa Trinidad
This structure comprises two naves, dating from the 13th and 16th centuries respectively, although the
Church of Santa María del Campo
This building presently serves as a
See also
- List of municipalities in Cuenca
- List of Bienes de Interés Cultural in the Province of Cuenca
- List of castles in Spain
Notes
- ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- ^ Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
- ^ National Geographic Institute, TOWNS AND POPULATION ENTITIES GEOGRAPHICAL GAZETTER.
- ^ Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España, MTN25, page 691-III: Alarcón. 1:25 000 scale. 2005 edition.
- ^ "Population, area and density by municipalities". National Statistics Institute. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2014-11-08.
- ^ "Population Figures and Demographic Censuses". Archived from the original on 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2014-11-10.
- ^ "Population Figures referring to Municipal Register 1 January". National Statistics Institute.
- ^ List of mayors from the 2007 elections.
- ^ "Parador de Alarcón". Turespaña. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ "Actividades y rutas para hacer en Alarcón – Ayuntamiento de Alarcon".
- ISBN 978-1-900639-37-8.
References
- Salas Parrilla, Miguel. Alarcón, Belmonte y Garcimuñoz. Tres castillos del señorío de Villena en la provincia de Cuenca. Madrid: author, 1997.
- Muñoz, José Luis. El sueño eterno. Al borde de Alarcón. Cuenca: Ediciones Olcades, 2011.