Almócita

ALMÓCITA

Almócita is found inside the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. The town’s centre is flooded with Moorish architecture which still remains despite the Jewish quarter situated underneath it. It has about 170 inhabitants.

HISTORY

Almócita was founded by the descendants of Tubal, surviving the Arab occupation and still preserving the Jewish quarter in its Barrio Bajo. This town is divided into three sections; the Barrio Bajo or de la Judería, the Espeñuelas and the Secanillo de la Virgen.

In 1570, Don Juan de Austria arrived in the town to negotiate the reduction of the Moorish rebels from the Alpujarra, whose peace was celebrated around an oak in the Cortijo del Hadid, which since then took the name of Cortijo de las Paces. An illustrious figure of local history is Don Miguel Collado, who was canon of the College Badge of Santa Fe.

In the Middle Ages, the silk industry predominated, and Almócita was equipped with large nurseries of worms and mulberry trees, of which few are preserved today. During the nineteenth century, the lead mining industry developed. Today, visitors can see the ruins of the mines of Pandora, La Minilla, Minas de la Solana and the quarry of slates that were used to coat the roofs of the old local lead foundries.

THINGS TO SEE

Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia
The Church dates from the seventeenth century, and its consecration was celebrated by Martín de Ascargorta, Bishop of Granada, on November 15, 1703. One section of the nave currently lacks a roof, whilst the other section is covered by flat roof concrete beams. The cover corresponding to the head is conserved, which has wooden gabled armour with lancer decoration. In the centre of the south façade, elevated on a staircase, is the main portal. This is formed by a semicircular arch framed with moldings of scrolls featuring the anagram of Mary and a Crown. On the west wall there is another cover similar in composition: a semicircular arch framed by moldings on whose cornice there are two flamers at the ends and two scrolls in the centre that are topped by a cross from the Order of Malta. Located on Calle Andalucía.

Fuente de los Tres Caños
The water fountain is built with large blocks of limestone, composed of a larger pylon which pours water into two smaller ones. Located on Calle Real.

THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE

Ermita
The Chapel was built between the seventeenth to eighteenth centuries. It is possible that only the nave was formed in the original construction, and that the main chapel was added later. Located north of Almócita, off the A-348.

Molinillo de Almócita
The nineteenth-century mill, also known as Molino de Los Palos is a small stone building comprising two rooms. One contains the old grinding system, of which several stones are preserved. Outside, another stone is preserved, serving as a table. Located west of Almócita, on Camino de Lo Romanientes.

Minas de la Solana
This is a set of small houses, for mining management, such as processing structures. It has numerous mining wells and winches that surround the laundry area, as well as the nineteenth-century hopper, distributed throughout the slope that flows into the Andarax River. We can also find a large cylindrical raft for the accumulation of water, various warehouses, laboratories, workshops, technician houses and workers’ lodgings. They were put into operation in the 1950s, with numerous wells, notable for their large sizes. Located between Almócita and Fondón.

Fábrica Hidroeléctrica Almociténse
The hydroelectric power station consists of two buildings. The first, of substantial dimensions, contained the generator and other elements for electrical production. It was the first electricity generation in the municipality. Located on the left bank of the Andarax River, on the border with Padules.

GASTRONOMY

Gastronomically, Almócita has some delicious dishes including potaje de hinojo (fennel stew), potaje de trigo pelado (wheat stew), potaje de acelgas (chard soup), migas (fried breadcrumbs usually served with pork), fritada de conejo (fried rabbit) and tortilla de collejas (campion omlette). For dessert, one must try the soplillos (almond meringues).

FESTIVALS

Popular festivals in Almócita are Fiesta de San Blas, Semana Santa and Fiesta en Honor a Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados. More>

NEARBY PLACES

The neighbouring villages to Almócita are Padules, Vélez-Rubio and Fondón.

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