Noalejo

Nature

Noalejo, with an extension of 49 km ²It's an elongated 30-km-long strip of land. for a maximum of 3 km. wide. For those 30 kilometers it makes border between the provinces of Granada and Jaén.

We can say that practically the whole term is a natural place, although we can highlight the places of Navalcán, Nava Alta, Nava Baja, Sierra de la Granadina, Navalbunny or the Alta Coloma saw.

A landscape in which The mountains stand out (Sierra del Trigo, 1681 m.; Sierra de la Alta Coloma, 1606 m.), the hills (Santa Merced, Cerro Prieto and Cerro de la Mesa in the Hoya de Salobral), lomas (the most outstanding is the Loma de las Viñas) and the forests (like the pine trees of Cerro Prieto and Navalcán, and also of oak trees).

The term Noalejo presents the typical Mediterranean forest, characterized by housing a xerophyll vegetation, plants adapted to drought. The oaks, coscojas, cornicabra, torvisco, aulagas, rosemary and white jara predominate.

In the riverside areas we will find mixed deciduous forests, composed of chopos, willows, olmos, zarzamora, endrino...

Without forgetting the importance of mycology and between it: the cardo mushroom, the cane mushroom and the wild mushrooms.

From the fauna, we will find the typical species of the Mediterranean and mountain mountain: major hunting species: boar, muflon...; minor hunting (rabbit, perdiz, zorzales...); Insectivorous birds living in the olive tree, and the forest-specific fauna of gallery by the river line; amphibians and reptiles.

But the best way to know the landscape, fauna and flora of this territory is to visit one of the many places that offer us, among them all, we highlight:

• Navalcan. It is located to the west of the town, in the foothills of the mountain set of the South Sierra. It's a karmic depression where we can observe slices, caves, river courses, Mediterranean flora and fauna. The valley is like a small oasis in the middle of an increasingly agribusiness orography. A place to observe the panoramic views of the region and the starting point of hiking routes that discover the area.

• Navalta and Navalbunny. They are fenced valleys surrounded by pine and oak. Places very visited by mushroom seekers in spring and autumn. They are also spaces of livestock holding (ovine and caprine), there are several cortijos dedicated to this work.

• Sierra del Trigo. This is an important mountain port, from where we can see stunning panoramic Sierra Sur, Sierra Mágina, Sierra de Arana and Sierra Nevada. In two of his tops, The Nevazos and Cerro del Hoyo Cigarronesdifferent phases of the wind park.

Parties and Events

Among the many festivities held in Noalejo, we highlight:

• Saint Anton, January 17. The day before is done "lumbres" to celebrate the master of the animals and to ask the saint to protect the animals of the house. It is a custom that over the years seems to be falling.

• The Virgin of Bethlehem, take place from 14 to 19 August. It's the big parties. and the ones most expected by the neighbors. They were changed from the date of October to the current date of August so that those outside the town can be present. The Virgin rises to the hermitage on Saturday in a procession that begins at 22: 00, walking the streets of the village and then ascending to the hermitage where a salve will be sung. Sunday is repeated again the procession with an estimated duration of four hours.

Among the many activities planned there is no lack of "bulls" of braves.

• Real Fair "Villa de Noalejo," 5-7 September. Inside the municipal pavilion, the village merchants set up their stands to promote the sale of their products. There are numerous visits to the surrounding villages.

• Virgin of the Rosary. It takes place on October 7. The party starts with the Rosario de la Aurora 7: 00. In the afternoon, at 8: 00 p.m., the procession takes place with the image of the Virgin who walks the streets of Noalejo. The large number of lit torches that light the road is very striking.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Noalejo is based mainly on the products derived from the slaughter of the pig.

This town, with its altitude (the city centre is more than 1000 m.), is ideal for healing sausages. This morning tradition has led to the survival of a dish known to the "San Antonio pot," The ingredients are: white beans and dried beans in soak, to which is added a payroll of pork products: spinach, salt ribs, ham bone, an ear and pig tail, all well boiled next to a garlic head, an onion and pepper.

Another typical dish is the "Noooooooooooo," and a vianda that usually prepared the shepherds on the mountain for dinner. It is a hot soup made with water, vinegar, olive oil, ground garlic, salt and ground pepper. In addition, after boiling, a slice of previously roasted bread is added.

In addition, it has these Other dishes: bonus cake, green olives, stuffed eggs, old clothes and shepherd's crumbs.

From the pastry shop We point out: Christmas, sweet gachas, wind coffins...

History

The oldest testimonies of the human presence in the term of Noalejo are the cave paintings of Navalcan's coatwhich had to be carried out between the end of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

The foundation of Noalejo as a village of lordship goes back in the early 16th century. In its history we can set four stages:

1. From 1492 to 1500. Because of the inability of Granada and Jaén to establish the provincial limits, the "entertaining"which consisted of leaving land unattached to any specific locality to be enjoyed by the inhabitants of both jurisdictions. The strip of land occupied by Noalejo would be "challenged" by Granada and Jaén. It soon became a source of conflict.
2. From 1530 to 1554. In these years there is the acquisition of the "misfortune" of the term Noalejo by Ms Mencía Salcedowhich will begin to to rotate the land to work land. This action will have the opposition of the neighbors because they run out of cattle pastures.
3. Between 1554 and 1599, Ms Mencía Salcedo to buy from the crown the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the terms of the questioning.
4. From 1560 in Go ahead. A problematic stage of adaptation to the new situation, in which both Mencía Salcedo and his successors will be faced with continuous lawsuits, until they get confirmation of their privilege.

Noalejo was founded by Ms Mencía Salcedo, which is the most important character in the history of the municipality and is surrounded by a certain legendary dye by the neighbors. (Mencía Salcedo was a woman at the service of the Royal House of Charles V and his son, Philip II).

In 1568 the municipality was assigned by Bula to the Abbey of Alcalá la Real and when the abbey was abolished in 1851, it was finally integrated into the diocese of Jaén.

At the end of the 20th century, the fall in the profitability of agricultural land was one of the causes of the caused emigration to cities, industrial and tourist centres, with a significant decline in the number of inhabitants.