Caravaca de la Cruz
Murcia Towns - Caravaca de la Cruz
Caravaca de la Cruz
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Caravaca de la Cruz -
Located in the northwest of the Murcia region is the holy town of Caravaca de la Cruz, with a population of approximately 25,000, it is a medium sized town with a history to rival that of any other in the region. One of only 5 Holy Cities of the world (as declared by the Vatican), Caravaca shares this honour with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébano. Pope Benidict XVI visited in 2002 for the benefaction of the cross.
Caravaca de la Cruz gets its name from a piece of wood in the shape of a cross with twin arms, which is reputed to have been part of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The legend relates that in 1232, Ceyt-Abuceyt the Moorish king at that time along with his Arabic subjects, all became Christians upon witnessing the appearance of the cross being lowered from the heavens by two angels, enabling an imprisoned priest to perform the mass. Since then the Catholic Church has acknowledged it as the True Cross (Vera Cruz) and it has been carefully guarded by the Christian faith ever since. The Cruz de Caravaca has become the symbol of the town and is now housed in the church sanctuary.
Though the area around Caravaca de la Cruz certainly witnessed some human activity during pre-historic times, possibly going back as far as Neanderthal Man, the present town is on the site of several Iberian settlements which were built in the surrounding hills. During Iberian and Roman times the Quipar valley was an extremely important trading route connecting the regions of Levante and Andalucia. From the year 713 Caravaca was part of the autonomous territory of Cora de Tudmir along with 6 other towns.
After the fall of the Kingdom of Murcia in around 1266, the town was given to The Knights Templar by Alfonso the Wise and they became responsible for defending the Christian frontiers during the struggle against the Moorish invaders. In 1344 by the Order of Santiago, Caravaca became the political centre of an extensive territory and by the Eighteenth Century it had become an important and prosperous town, thanks to the production of hemp and cereals.
Flanked by 14 defensive towers and fortified by extensive castle walls, Caravaca de la Cruz is an impressive and charismatic town, linked inextricably to the Vera Cruz (True Cross) which dominates the town and its inhabitants, the symbol of the cross can be seen everywhere. Never far from the thoughts of the people of Caravaca, their entire year is geared towards the first 5 days of May, when spectacular celebrations take place in honour of the cross. One of the favourite events during the celebrations is the Caballeros del Vino (Wine Horses), which features horses dressed in elaborate costumes, taking wine to the Sanctuary to be blessed, another splendid event is the racing of the harnessed horses. Of course the primary theme of the celebrations is the revered cross and the historic struggle between the Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos), and the grand parade on the fourth day of the fiesta features some colourful and stunning costumes.
There are a great many interesting places to visit in Caravaca de la Cruz and these include the sanctuary church begun in 1617, the Museum of the Vera Cruz located within the sanctuary, the Museo de la Fiesta (Fiesta Museum) located in the Palacio de los Uribe from the 16th Century, the Archaeology Museum, the Casa de Cultura, the renaissance Church of San Salvador, the Palacio de la Encomiendas from the 18th Century, the Plaza de los Caballeros del Vino, and the La Iglesia de Conceptión (Church of the Conception).
Caravaca de la Cruz can be reached by heading north from Murcia on the C-415 past Mula.
Do you have property that you would like to sell or rent in the Caravaca de la Cruz area? Why not advertise on our busy website and get more exposure for your property? We have high rankings on Google and Yahoo for hundreds of popular search terms. For more details follow this link:- Advertise Caravaca de la Cruz Property or e-mail Steve to ask for more information:- needahandspanishproperties@yahoo.co.uk
Located in the northwest of the Murcia region is the holy town of Caravaca de la Cruz, with a population of approximately 25,000, it is a medium sized town with a history to rival that of any other in the region. One of only 5 Holy Cities of the world (as declared by the Vatican), Caravaca shares this honour with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébano. Pope Benidict XVI visited in 2002 for the benefaction of the cross.
Caravaca de la Cruz gets its name from a piece of wood in the shape of a cross with twin arms, which is reputed to have been part of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. The legend relates that in 1232, Ceyt-Abuceyt the Moorish king at that time along with his Arabic subjects, all became Christians upon witnessing the appearance of the cross being lowered from the heavens by two angels, enabling an imprisoned priest to perform the mass. Since then the Catholic Church has acknowledged it as the True Cross (Vera Cruz) and it has been carefully guarded by the Christian faith ever since. The Cruz de Caravaca has become the symbol of the town and is now housed in the church sanctuary.
Though the area around Caravaca de la Cruz certainly witnessed some human activity during pre-historic times, possibly going back as far as Neanderthal Man, the present town is on the site of several Iberian settlements which were built in the surrounding hills. During Iberian and Roman times the Quipar valley was an extremely important trading route connecting the regions of Levante and Andalucia. From the year 713 Caravaca was part of the autonomous territory of Cora de Tudmir along with 6 other towns.
After the fall of the Kingdom of Murcia in around 1266, the town was given to The Knights Templar by Alfonso the Wise and they became responsible for defending the Christian frontiers during the struggle against the Moorish invaders. In 1344 by the Order of Santiago, Caravaca became the political centre of an extensive territory and by the Eighteenth Century it had become an important and prosperous town, thanks to the production of hemp and cereals.
Flanked by 14 defensive towers and fortified by extensive castle walls, Caravaca de la Cruz is an impressive and charismatic town, linked inextricably to the Vera Cruz (True Cross) which dominates the town and its inhabitants, the symbol of the cross can be seen everywhere. Never far from the thoughts of the people of Caravaca, their entire year is geared towards the first 5 days of May, when spectacular celebrations take place in honour of the cross. One of the favourite events during the celebrations is the Caballeros del Vino (Wine Horses), which features horses dressed in elaborate costumes, taking wine to the Sanctuary to be blessed, another splendid event is the racing of the harnessed horses. Of course the primary theme of the celebrations is the revered cross and the historic struggle between the Moors and Christians (Moros y Cristianos), and the grand parade on the fourth day of the fiesta features some colourful and stunning costumes.
There are a great many interesting places to visit in Caravaca de la Cruz and these include the sanctuary church begun in 1617, the Museum of the Vera Cruz located within the sanctuary, the Museo de la Fiesta (Fiesta Museum) located in the Palacio de los Uribe from the 16th Century, the Archaeology Museum, the Casa de Cultura, the renaissance Church of San Salvador, the Palacio de la Encomiendas from the 18th Century, the Plaza de los Caballeros del Vino, and the La Iglesia de Conceptión (Church of the Conception).
Caravaca de la Cruz can be reached by heading north from Murcia on the C-415 past Mula.
Do you have property that you would like to sell or rent in the Caravaca de la Cruz area? Why not advertise on our busy website and get more exposure for your property? We have high rankings on Google and Yahoo for hundreds of popular search terms. For more details follow this link:- Advertise Caravaca de la Cruz Property or e-mail Steve to ask for more information:- needahandspanishproperties@yahoo.co.uk
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