Villanueva del Arzobispo

Nature

Villanueva del Archbishop is one of the four villas that, together with Villacarillo, Iznatoraf and Sorihuela del Guadalimarthey make up the region called Las Villas.

A town where there are many sites of extraordinary environmental and landscape value that are the gateway to the fascinating Sierra de las Cuatro Villas.

By its municipal term the rivers run Guadalquivir and Guadalimarwhich add beauty to the landscape, wealth to both vegetation and fauna. Surrounded by a sea of olive trees and cereal fields, part of its territory is included in the Natural Park of the Serras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas.

It is one of the localities where the vegetation has a greater variety, along with the species of the Alta mountain, such as the laricio pine or the acebo, coexist with other species that develop at a lower height, such as the black pine, the tejo or the boj and with those that develop in the lower area: melojo oak, the oak, the oak, the cucumber, olive trees, and other endemic and aromatic plants.

To this vegetation we will add the one that develops on the banks of the rivers: chopos, willows, mumberas, tarais...

The fauna, in line with the plant variety and the many habitats in the term, is also abundant and diverse.

To the raptures and scavengers of the mountains, eagles, broken bones, lethonated vultures, are joined the species, both of major hunting, deer, maflon, boar; as of minor hunting, rabbit, hare, parrots, gits, badges, kernels...

Without forgetting the typical birds of the olive tree, which either live in it, or feed on the migratory movements: curuca, verderon, zorzal, petirroja... Nor fail to mention the fauna of the rivers of crystal waters in their high courses: trout, barbo, nutrites, salamandra... Just like reptiles and amphibians.

A privileged world where Nature is the main attraction of these lands. Nothing better than to discover it in one of the many places in municipal terms, we will point out two recreational areas and have good accessibility:

• The Charco of the Pringue or Charco of the oil. Located about 20 km. of the city centre, is a recreational area that has a water remnant in the same river Guadalquivir. It has a wall and a gate, which allows to empty it completely. The water outlet is a roundabout, which in addition to continuously renewing the water from the remnant, serves to allow us to pass from one side to the other of the river. The name so curious, is because they tell that a donkey loaded with pear of oil precipitated from the narrow upper path and fell into the remnant, stained with oil water.

• Cueva del Peinero. It is one of the most abrupt and steep places in the park. Its natural exit is the impressive throat where the river runs Avocados Grande, cThe crystal clear waters descend into successive waterfalls. On the contrary, in the recreational area, the river is sorely and silently spread between the thick vegetation of willows, chopos and nozzles. The huge lanterns that close the site rise more than 600 meters, forming scalated poyos covered with fully virgin vegetation by the difficult access. It tells the tradition that this cave was inhabited in the summer by a craftsman who was dedicated to making boj wood utensils, very abundant material in the area, and among other objects, made hair combs.

Parties and Events

The main parties in Villanueva del Archbishop are:

• San Antón. January 17. They turn on "luminaires" in different places and the neighbors gather around drinking the traditional artisan wine.

• San Blas. It is held on February 3. This day the villanovens come to the hermitage of the Holy, lighting a lumnaria around it and celebrating the tradition of passing the garrot through the throat so that San Blas will protect their health throughout the year.

• Holy Week. Living representations are held dating back to the 17th century. They stand out for their realism and expressiveness. The different cofradies and cofrades process throughout the week. It has a great heritage in sizes and images that represent the passion of Christ.

• Festivals of the Christ of the Vera Cross. These parties are held in the days before and after May 3. On that day, the Christ goes out in procession through some streets of the town and blesses the fields in the era of the Virgin of the Head. Verbenas and cultural activities accompany religious acts.

• San Isidro. It is celebrated on May 15 and is the patron of farmers. In the parish of San Andrés The Eucharist is celebrated, followed by a procession with the Holy one on the streets, accompanied by tractors, agricultural machinery, horses... And at the end of the day a sisterhood meal is held.

• San Fernando. It is held in Gútar May 30 with a traditional Eucharist, meals, drinks and verbena.

• Corpus Cristi. The streets of the procession tour are embellished with flowers, carpets, paintings, plants to magnify the passage of Corpus Cristi. End of May, early June.

• The Night in White. In July, with increasing demand and participation, a cultural night is celebrated: theatre, guitar, music bands, little children, dances... A very cultural and emotional night.

• Festivals of Our Lady of the Fuensana. Between 7 and 11 September, the great days of Villanueva del Archbishop take place. On the 7th and 8th, in the morning, the procession and the traditional Romeria are held in the vicinity of the Sanctuary. From that day on the party is moved to the city centre with taurino shows, concerts and lots of activities. The final clasp put it, the last day, the fireworks.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy is traditional and varied, highlighting these dishes:

• Cod onions, Cod stew, potatoes and onion.

• Ajoharina, tomato saffrito, potatoes and eggplants with red pepper, garlic, cumins and water. Add flour to thinner.

• Whites, salty, hard and crispy cakes accompanied by tomato and raw beans.

• Garlic, rice with chopped onion, pig blood, butter and fences.

• Gachamita, potatoes, garlic, oil, flour and water.

• Other: Pipirrana, crumbs, gachas, "sleeping" cakes.

Warehouse:

• Drunk, mass of flour, roasted olive oil, spirits, lemon, cinnamon and sugar.

Typical drinks:

• Membile or fig liquor, crow, misteland traditional came from San Antón.

History

In the Arab era, Villanueva del Archbishop, was one of the fortresses that reinforced the village of Iznatoraf. It was a village like a few inhabitants, called "La Moraleja." The Arabs who lived in those places chose it as a leisure area, where horse races were organized and the artisans set up their workshops.

After the conquest by Fernando III of Iznatoraf, the village of "La Moraleja" was donated by the king, in the early 13th century, to Cazorla's advance.

The town as such in 1396, thanks to the request made by the Archbishop of Toledo to King Henry III, who granted him a Letter from Privilegio which is preserved in the Town Hall of the Villa. By this Charter the city was founded with all the privileges possible at that time: market, police and cessation of the payment of taxes to Iznatoraf. But an obligation was imposed on him: to lift a wall with two doors and to close the city in five years.

The municipality became the most important core of Señorío de Cazorlawith several flour mills on the Guadalquivir River.

Miguel de Cervantes lived for some time in this village as a tax collector.
Why did the municipality get this name? Villa, for the title given; new, because until that moment it did not exist as such and Archbishopin honor of Mr Pedro Tenorio, who was called the ecclesiastical office.

The city was moving forward and Philip II granted him criminal jurisdiction in 1573.

During War of IndependenceThe people became a refuge for guerrillas who harassed the French troops. As a result of these events, some convents were damaged and the Charter of Privilegio disappeared. After many years she appeared in Linares, she was restored and kept well guarded in the City Hall because she is the oldest document we have.

In 1920 he received the title of City from King Alfonso XIII.