Category Archives: History

A local woman is to become the first gitana beatified by the Catholic Church

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A local gypsy woman who died during the Civil War is to become the first female Romany gitano to be beatified by the Catholic Church. Emilia Fernández Rodríguez was born in Tijola in 1913 and died in the ‘Gachas Colorás’ prison in 1939 after giving birth. Sra Fernández was born to a cave dwelling family and earnt her living weaving baskets, helping to support her family in this manner. In 1938 at the age of Continue reading A local woman is to become the first gitana beatified by the Catholic Church→

Stamp commemorating a thousand years of Almería launched

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Correos had a presentation yesterday of a commemorative stamp illustrating the thousand year anniversary of the Kingdom of Almería – 1014 – 2014. This seems to have come two years late, so I may be missing something in this story. The backdrop is from an early 19th century lithograph taken by Nicolás Mª Chapuy, whereas the forefront is a modern photo by Pako Manzano. The big “m” is the official logo of the “Milenio Reino Continue reading Stamp commemorating a thousand years of Almería launched→

Why the name Abundio was so popular in Mojacar in the 40’s

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I was told today of an interesting historical footnote which explains away the popularity of the name “Abundio” amongst elderly Moqueros. It’s a great story, whether it be true or not, and so I recount it here. It seems that in the mid 40’s the registrador civil, the civil servant in charge of the civil registrar, was a man of sensible practical humour who had a wish to immortalise himself. Never having achieved anything of Continue reading Why the name Abundio was so popular in Mojacar in the 40’s→

Did you know that Mojácar had a “Jewish quarter”?

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Well, according to the tourism department it does. The bland and innocuous turismo de mojácar facebook page dedicates itself not to actually promoting the municipality, or advertising forthcoming events that may be of interest, but to publishing a never ending series of blurred and skewed holiday snaps sent in from the camera phones of locals, usually captioned with a happy good morning!!  OK, sometimes they publish a nice one, but you always get the feeling it’s by Continue reading Did you know that Mojácar had a “Jewish quarter”?→

So what’s a nómina?

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Anyone who works in Spain is used to getting a nómina. It’s the sheet of paper that you get at the end of the month specifying your wage, and all deductions – what we call a paysheet. “Just off to get me numana” cry the happy Brits on the 31st of the month, rubbing their hands in anticipation. Or is it? The word is actually far more fascinating than that, and the RAE (Real Academia Continue reading So what’s a nómina?→

Almería surrender documents found and restored by local paper

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The original articles of surrender by the Moorish residents of Almería to the Christian armies in the 15th century have been found (they were lost? Stuck in a box somewhere it seems) by Ideal newspaper and restored by them. They are now on display until after Christmas at the Museo Arqueológico Provincial. The Capitulaciones as they are known, were negotiated between the Islamic ruler of the city of Almería and the Catholic Kings Isabel & Continue reading Almería surrender documents found and restored by local paper→

Almería’s English cemetery will reopen

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In 1887, the town of Almería ceded in perpetuity, 888 square metres of land to be used as an “English cemetery” for Anglicans who died in the province. Of course, in the glory days of Queen Vic, this sort of thing was all well and good, but what with civil wars, economic downfalls and the final setting of the sun upon the Empire, the place fell into disuse. The local Brits were usually happy with Continue reading Almería’s English cemetery will reopen→

The abandoned warehouse outside Garrucha

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We’ve all seen the old abandoned warehouse, stuck in the middle of a flat field outside Garrucha as we enter from the Los Gallardos road. Many of us will have wondered why? wherefore? and how? as we speed past this old, well built yet abandoned and now falling apart sign to a past dream. This… is the dream that was.

Phoenician village excavated in Villaricos and now open to the public

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A Phoenician village dating from around 800 BCE has been excavated by archaeologists and is now open to visits from the public in Villaricos. Cuevas townhall and the Junta de Andalucía have been working together to make the area safe for visitors and it was opened this week. [Adsense-C]

The Cabezo Maria hermitage in Antas

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It’s the famous hermitage you can see on top of the hill outside Antas from miles around. The hill is actually the remains of the central lava column of an ancient volcano. The rest of the volcano has eroded away, leaving only the central lava spike, on top of which a shrine was erected. The lava flow from this hill can actually be traced all the way down to the sea – it can appears Continue reading The Cabezo Maria hermitage in Antas→