Purchil is a Spanish locality belonging to the municipality of Vegas del Genil, in the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated in the central part of the Vega de Granada district. The settlements of Ambroz, Belicena, and Cúllar Vega are located nearby.
History
Purchil was an independent municipality until 1976, when it merged with Belicena and Ambroz to form a single municipality named Vegas del Genil; since then, it has served as the municipal seat and houses the Vegas del Genil town hall.
Things to see in Purchil
Iglesia de San José (Purchil)
The Church of St Joseph has a single-nave rectangular plan, and originally featured Mudéjar coffered ceilings, which have not survived. In the 19th century, an adjoining chapel, dedicated to San José, was added to the left side of the church. The elevated main chapel (Capilla Mayor) is rectangular in form and covered by a shallow dome resting on pendentives. A marble baldachin (a ceremonial canopy of fabric, stone, or metal placed over an altar) supported by four dark columns dominates the high altar and is topped by a dome and cross. A square bell tower rises beside the sanctuary, while the choir gallery occupies the western end of the church. It has four Baroque and two Neo-Gothic altarpieces. The church contains an impressive collection of religious art and sacred vessels accumulated over several centuries, including a sterling silver monstrance for the Feast of Corpus Christi, a silver processional cross dated 1777, according to an inscription, and other vestments. Over the years, various parish priests have carried out changes and reforms to the building. In the 1960s, significant renovations to the main altar removed the balustrades, the reliquary urns of the Corazones de Jesús y María, and the pulpit. In the 1980s, the badly deteriorated roofs were repaired, and wrought-iron lamps were installed. A large iron structure was built to reinforce the roof of the main chapel. Between 1998 and 2004, changes to the main altar included removing the pedestals with the Corazones de Jesús and installing restored paintings of the Inmaculada Concepción and San Ildefonso. In addition, the parish built a new two-story rectory with meeting rooms and living quarters for the parish priest. Today, the Church of San José remains one of the most important historic and cultural landmarks in Vegas del Genil. Located on Calle Real.
Things to see near Purchil
Puente Francés
The Puente Francés (French Bridge) is a small but historically significant stone bridge that sits on the border between Vegas del Genil and Granada city. The bridge dates to the early 19th century, spans an old channel of the Genil River, and is considered part of Granada's historic heritage. Representative of French architecture, it is constructed from dressed stone masonry with a segmental flattened arch and was built by Napoleonic troops during the occupation of Granada. It is scheduled for restoration. Located on Camino de Granada
Ermita del Cristo de las Cañas
The Hermitage of Christ of the Reeds chapel is a small rural chapel located within the grounds of the Cortijo de las Cañas estate, on the road to Santa Fé. The hermitage takes its name from Cristo de las Cañas, a representation of Christ where it is said that Roman soldiers mocked Jesus before the Crucifixion, placing a reed (cana) in his hand as a sceptre. The modest chapel, comprising a single rectangular nave and a bell gable, is open to the public on Good Friday at 15.00 hrs. The bell is rung, and a series of prayers are recited. Tradition holds that worshippers make three wishes, which Cristo de las Cañas then grants.
Cortijo de San Antón
The Farmstead of St Anthony is an old Moorish farmhouse that belonged to the Order of Santiago de Granada during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs. After the ecclesiastical confiscations of the 19th century, the Seijas Lozano family acquired it at public auction in 1836. The farm (cortijo) retains two cisterns and two wells, preserved in excellent condition and historically used for both agricultural and family purposes. As one of the area's oldest rural properties, the cortijo reflects the agricultural heritage and historical continuity of the Vega de Granada.