PUEBLA DE ALCOCER

Description

Puebla de Alcocer , located on the southern slope of the Sierra de los Lares , It is a town near Herrera del Duque , former fief of the Dukes of Osuna. Once called "Aldeavieja", its current location is located above the place it once occupied. A review of its history gives us data that in the Middle Ages this population, together with most of the region, was ceded to the Order of Alcántara after the reconquest, after having been occupied by the Arabs, whose cultural grounds remained patent in the locality, especially as far as architecture is concerned. Puebla de Alcocer stands therefore in a hodgepodge of Christian and Muslim influences - which exemplifies even its name, because "Alcocer" may well derive from the Arabic word " Al-Qusayr ", which means "walled city" - , giving the town an undeniably attractive result of this unique merger. But these are not the only historical vestiges that survive in this beautiful town. Outside the villa we can find some interesting remains, such as the so-called " Old Castle " - U n set of ruins of Carthaginian time - and the   Roman site   from   " Lacimurga Constantia Iulia " , located in the vicinity.

Area of ​​slate soils and serene beauty, of rugged terrain to which the village adapts, P uebla de Alcocer has many houses built on masonry and stone, which gives a compact and uniform image, especially as regards those located in the vicinity of the C astillo-fortress of Puebla de Alcocer, built on an old Templar fortress and that constitutes by itself the most characteristic monument of the town. This castle , whose construction was ordered by the Masters of the Order of Alcántara, dates from the 15th century and contains Mudejar elements. Gutierre de Sotomayor , master of that order, located this bastion on a hill, as a result of which you can enjoy extraordinary views from it , especially from the so-called "Tower of Homage", which is still preserved in good condition . The passing of the centuries and neglect in their care affected the bulwark , which forced reconstruction work during the twentieth century to solve the deterioration to which the fortification was subjected, destined to ruin if these works had not been carried out. At the foot of the castle, we also find the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Cave, hidden in a cave in the rocks of the hill. Like the castle, due to its elevation on a high peak, it dominates the immense horizons of the region.

Leaving the outskirts of the town and entering its urban core, we find the Church of Santiago - Originally an Arab mosque - , Gothic- Mudejar style, with apse and brick facade, and dating from the fifteenth century. This church has interesting decorative elements rare in the fusion of styles that we have just mentioned, as well as an elegant plateresque cover . It also includes numerous frescoes from the 13th century onwards, a slab with the remains of the famous traveler Fray Fernando de Moraga - not in vain dubbed as "the second Marco Polo -as well as a work of Russian painter Boris Lugososkcoy. In the aforementioned Church the aforementioned Gutierre de Sotomayor was buried, whose first-born was I Vizconde de Puebla de Alcocer, and whose first-born grandson, also born in Puebla de Alcocer, renounced all title and fortune to lead a humble life and become the Saint known as Fray Juan de la Puebla. In front of this church we find a square recoleta whose passages connect with the streets of that area. Another noteworthy religious building is the Convento de San Francisco, enabled today Ethnographic Museum - located in the old cellars of the convent - and provided with a large church, another of the places that supposedly houses the remains of the already mentioned master Gutierre de Sotomayor , although the exact enclave where they are located is unknown, as it lacks burial .These are not the only funeral vestiges that are in this enclave, as also the berga a large slab that once contained the body of King Pedro I. Other interesting elements are also found in this location, such as an image of the Sorrowful Virgin dating from the 18th century, a reclining Christ from the 17th century or a Mudejar patio . Another convent is that of the Augustinian nuns, also known as the Convent of the Visitation , which has a remarkable cloister. We also find two hermitages, the Hermitage of San Antón and the Hermitage of San Isidro , around which a pilgrimage is celebrated in May, and which has in its interior images of San Isidro Labrador and the Virgin of Fatima. Beyond these constructions of the religious type, we find buildings for civil use, among which is the Town Hall , located in the Plaza Mayor, the so-called Plaza de España, which is also the former Palace of the Dukes of Osuna , now converted into the House of Culture - which houses the Museum of the Extremeño Giant , Municipal Library "Fray Juan de la Puebla" , the Municipal Historical Archive and the university extension UNED - . Between the houses of the urban nucleus are constructions in brick and rammed earth, as well as in ashlar masonry. It is worth noting the excellent number of ancestral homes available to the people, such as the House of the Inquisition , the Casa de los Arévalo , the Casa de los Calderones , the Casa del Comendador , the Casa de los Sólo de Zaldívar , the Casona of San Juan de la Puebla or the Residence of the Duke of Osuna.

The proximity of reservoirs - like the La Serena Reservoir or the Orellana Reservoir - as well as a lagoon in its vicinity that is very popular during the summer season, It constitutes only some of the main tourist attractions of Puebla de Alcocer, besides being a magnificent leisure opportunity to face the hot summers of this place. A collation of water we can also see many springs scattered throughout the town, many of them drinkable and others merely ornamental, which have names as diverse as "El Camino" "Oñamira", "El chorro" or "El Bonal", In the margin this interesting condition, we can not ignore traditional celebrations, such as Easter procession and parades onal, Corpus Christi, San Sebastián luminaires - or "Santobastián" as it is popularly known - , Las Candelas in honor of the Virgen de la Candelaria, Chaquetía - on the feast of All Saints -, the May Agro-livestock Fair or the celebrations that are celebrated in August in honor of the patron saint of the town , the Virgen Del Rosario . All s these issues offer the alternative many visitors to enjoy the area, but may be obviated the local cuisine, among which include dishes like garlic soup, crumbs pastor, salmorejo, "escarapuche",originally from the town of Peloche, but also imported to this population. To sweeten the tasting, you can enjoy desserts such as cannelloni and candelillas . Finally emphasize the production of native olive oil, and even own drinks like wine and pitarra called "chapurrao" a concoction of rum, cinnamon, saffron, hi erba verbena and sugar.

Points of interest

• Castillo.
• Iglesia de Santiago.
• Convento de San Francisco / Museo Etnográfico.
• Convento de La Visitación.
• Casas Solariegas:
  • Casa de la Inquisición.
  • Residencia del duque de Osuna.
  • Casona de San Juan de la Puebla.
  • Casa de los Arévalo.
  • Casa de los Calderones.
  • Casa del Comendador
  • Casa de los Sólo de Zaldívar.
• Plaza Mayor (Plaza de España).
• Casa de la Cultura / Museo del Gigante Extremeño / Archivo Histórico Municipal.
• Ayuntamiento.
• Fuentes manantiales.
• Ermita de San Antón.
• Ermita de San Isidro.
• Yacimiento romano de Lacimurga.
• "Castillo Viejo".
• Website "El Gigante de Alcocer".