LA VICTORIA
by Saskia Mier
La Victoria is home to some exceptional archaeological remains at Pago de Riaza. The village has about 2,300 inhabitants.
HISTORY
It has been suggested that La Victoria's foundation is linked to the establishment of the Friars Mínimos de San Francisco de Paula in Córdoba, when the general of the Order asked the Bishop of Córdoba, Don Juan Daza y Osorio, for his assistance to establish a Convent, which was founded in 1510.
In 1810, when Spain was in the middle of the War of Independence, La Victoriawas known at the time as La Guijarrosa, because it was part of an old and extensive area of La Rambla with the same name. In the vicinity of the present town was what is now called La Victoria Vieja, equipped with houses, cellars, winery, vineyards and orchards. It was bought by Andrés de Santa María to donate to the Friars Mínimos de San Francisco de Paula in 1552.
THINGS TO SEE
Casa Capilla de los Monjes Mínimos
The chapel of La Victoria Vieja was donated to the Friars Mínimos de San Francisco de Paula in 1552. Located on Calle Los Huevos.
Iglesia de San Pedro de Alcántara
The Church of San Pedro de Alcántara was built on land owned by the Order of San Francisco de Paula in 1818. On October 1 of the same year, in gratitude for the construction of the new church, Fray José Antonio Valenzuela asked the Prelate to place the temple under invocation. Located on Calle Cervantes.
Ayuntamiento
The Town Hall was built in 1926. In 2004 it was extended by adding an adjoining house, but the original style has been fully respected. The UTEDLT (Territorial Unit for Employment and Local and Technological Development), the OCA (Comarcal Agrarian Office) and the Local Police are all found within the building. Located in Plaza de España.
Toro de Riaza
In October 1973, a bull-shaped sculpture of Iberian art appeared in the area known as Pozo de Riaza. The rare specimen is made of white stone and fine grain and measures about 1.75 metres long by 90 centimetres wide. Currently it is found in the Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico de Córdoba.
Piedra del Trueno
Due to its shape and size, it is thought that this curious rock specimen was part of prehistoric remains that remained for a long time in the territory, a hypothesis that gained more weight when the Toro de Riaza was found nearby. It is thought that this rock must have been a landmark, placed next to the road that people travelled on to take their deceased to Riaza for burial. Located on Calle Federico Garcia Lorca.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE
Torre de Don Lucas
The Tower of Don Lucas was built during the Moorish period, although the date of its exact construction is unknown. It has been suggested that it dates to the times of Alhaquen I (808-809 of the Christian era), and is built of lime, sand and stone. Located north of La Victoria, off Avenida de Fernán Núñez.
NATURAL AREAS
Monte Beneguillas
The mountain is a Mediterranean holm oak forest composed of dense vegetation and covering an area of 1.3 hectares. Beautifully conserved over time due to the impracticality of the slope for crop production, it is ideal for leisure, recreation and outdoor sports.
Dehesa de Tocina
TheTocina oak grove extends over 233.2 hectaresand belongs to the farm of the same name. Used in recent years for the San Isidro Labrador pilgrimage.
COUNTRYSIDE WALKS
One of the initiatives of the RELAS project (Local Network of Action in Health) has been the creation of an itinerary that unites the municipalities of San Sebastian de los Ballesteros, La Victoria and La Carlota through rural footpaths.The inauguration took place in 2010.In each municipality an informative sign has been placed with a map of the five-hour itinerary as well as indicative signs along the 17-kilometre route.
GASTRONOMY
The victoreña gastronomy is very much centred on Iberian pork, highlighting chorizosand morcillas (black pudding). It emphasises old family recipes such asjudías palomeras (beans), croquetas de patata (potato croquettes), manitas de cerdo (pig trotters), gazpacho and naranjas picadas con bacalao y cebolla (oranges with cod and onion). Sweet treats include pastries such as pestiños, flores, soplones, roscos de naranjay de anís and popular lard cakes filled with chocolate or pumpkin jam.
FESTIVALS
Cabalgata Reyes Magos
Three Kings procession celebrated on the evening of 5 January.
Candelaria
Celebrated on 2 February.
Carnaval
Celebrated in February.
Día de Andalucía
Celebrated on 28 February.
Semana Santa
Holy Week.
Romería de San Isidro
Celebrated on 15 May.
Feria de San Juan
Celebrated on 24 June.
Festival de Arte Contemporáneo ARTSUR
Art festival celebrated in June.
Mandifest
Music festival celebrated in August.
Fiesta de la Inmaculada
Celebrated on 8 December.
NEARBY AREAS
The neighbouring villages to La Victoria are San Sebastián de los Ballesteros and La Carlota.
