LA PEZA
By Saskia Mier
La Peza boasts the remains of a magnificent fortress, which was constructed between the ninth and tenth centuries. Although the origins of the village date back to Roman times, when it was a rest stop for travellers and soldiers, there are archaeological remains from many cultures. The town has a population of around 1,400.
HISTORY
Since ancient times, La Peza has been a key point on the route connecting the eastern peninsula with the Genil Valley and the Vega de Granada. Its strategic location would have made it an attractive place for early human settlement, as it was more accessible than the route through the entire Sierra Nevada. Therefore, La Peza must have been an obligatory stop for the Basques who founded the ancient city of Ilíberis (modern-day Granada), as well as for the Romans, who diverted from this small village to the Via Augusta en route to Cástulo. La Peza was thus situated in the middle of the traditional route linking Guadix and Almería with Granada, which was also widely travelled during the Middle Ages. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación.
The first Mudéjar church was built on the site of an early mosque between 1512 and 1515. This original church had a single nave, which was enlarged and embellished over the following centuries. A second church was later built on the ruins left by the Moors during the uprising of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This church has a single nave, a main chapel separated by a transept arch, a choir stall at the front and nine side chapels. The nave is covered with a simple Mudejar framework and a coffered ceiling consisting of two columns and a knuckle. Behind the transept arch is the main chapel, which is also covered with a Mudejar framework of panels decorated with latticework and fleshy pine cones. It is located on Calle Fuentezuela. More>
Castillo de La Peza.
The castle complex comprises two enclosures, with significant remains that provide an indication of its original perimeter. Only remains of the masonry wall that enclosed the exterior of the first enclosure can be seen today, as well as remains of an earth wall to the southeast and three towers in the second enclosure. The entrance gate to the enclosure must have been between the previous wall and this tower. The second tower, located to the northeast, is made of stone and limestone mortar and is hollow. Only its northern face remains. The third tower, located to the southwest, is the largest and is built using a combination of Arab and Christian masonry techniques, with stonework reinforcements at the corners. In the middle of the second enclosure is a rectangular cistern measuring 4.8 x 3.4 metres internally. Its walls are made of limestone concrete and there are no remains of the vault that once covered it. The castle is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest with the legal classification of Monument and is thus registered in the Official State Gazette (BOE) dated 29 June 1985. It is located on Calle Horno. More>
Ermita de San Francisco.
On Palm Sunday, the celebrations take place at the gate, where olive branches are blessed and litanies are read. Then, a procession to the church takes place. Mercedes, better known as “La Pepona”, who lives next door to the chapel, is responsible for its care and cleaning. It is located on Calle San Francisco. More>
Fuente de Los Cañillos.
Behind the Fuente de los Cañillos stands the House of the Clothier, which is currently unoccupied. Some people avoid drinking from one of its spouts because the clothier used to clean his teeth in it. The fountain serves both people and animals, as there is a drinking trough behind it. Nowadays, it’s common to find people filling bottles and carafes with water, as they prefer it to the water from the communal tap. The fountain itself dates back to the Moorish period of La Peza, when baths were located in the church. It is assumed that the same spring was used for both. It is located next to the Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación.More>
Ermita de San Marcos.
The chapel is situated next to the cemetery and on the day of its festival, roscos (rings of bread) are made and distributed among the people, and many fireworks are set off when the procession departs. The route runs from the church to the chapel. There, it circles the chapel and returns to the church again. Located on Camino de San Marcos. More>
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN
Fuente Alta.
Situated in the Sierra de La Peza, this natural spring is one of the highest and can be reached by taking the path from Puerto de los Blancares through Mirador de las Peñas de la Mula. In the past, shepherds would gather here to water their flocks before setting off to spend the night in the nearby hills. Next to the spring was the Huete reservoir, which supplied water to the Cortijo de la Montefría, also known as the Huete farmhouse, below. However, the reservoir has now disappeared, and only the stone rim of the old reservoir is still visible. It is located near the hills of La Venta, Alabacín, and Inquisidores. More>
NATURAL AREAS
Quejigo Pastoro.
The Quejigo de Pastoro is an area located on the shady side of Caicabal in the Sierra de La Peza, before the source of the Caicabal spring. This part of the mountain range boasts abundant pastureland for sheep and goats. In the past, clearings were made in these hills for growing potatoes, white beans and other vegetables. Further down is the Cortijo del Loco, and further on still is Hoyo Loboso, which has large walnut groves. The area takes its name from the Los Pastoros family, and the corral was supposedly built by Manuel “El Pastoro”. He was a shepherd and employed several others, including Geromo de la Matías, El Inacio and Juan El Florentino. Manuel died in the 1950s, after which his son José mainly continued his work. Today, there are hardly any shepherds left in the Sierra de La Peza. The forest was planted at the end of the Spanish Civil War around 1941.
HANDICRAFTS
Those who would like a souvenir of its characteristic craftsmanship can purchase metalwork products in the local workshops.
BUS SERVICE
There is a bus service from La Peza to Granada City. More>
GASTRONOMY
When visiting La Peza, try local dishes such as arroz con conejo (rice and rabbit), migas (fried breadcrumbs served with pork), cordero a la lumbre (stewed lamb) and gazpacho de pepino (cucumber soup). For something sweet, try the roscos de huevo (doughnuts), flan de huevo (egg custard) and panes de aceite con pasas (olive oil bread with raisins).
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in La Peza are Festividad de Nuestra Señora del Rosario y el Santísimo Cristo de la Misericordia, San Antón, San Marcos and Santa Lucía. More>
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for La Peza. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of La Peza is located in the Town Hall. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to La Peza are Diezma and Polícar.
