| Alcolea del Pinar, Spain | |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Castile-La Mancha |
| Province | Guadalajara |
| Municipality | Alcolea del Pinar |
| Area | |
| • Total | 113 km2 (43.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 406 |
| • Density | 3.6/km2 (9.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Alcolea del Pinar is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 406 inhabitants.
Its importance is related to its role as main crossroads. Its main street (Calle Real, Royal Street) was the old main road between Madrid and Barcelona, and Alcolea was the junction point to the road to Teruel and southern Aragon. Moreover, a little northward, in the municipality of Medinaceli, there is another main junction, this one heading north, towards Soria, representing the main access from Madrid to La Rioja and Navarre. As a result, Alcolea del Pinar has been an important hub for the road-related services, with a relatively large Guardia Civil (rural police)station, devoted to traffic control, and a base of the Ministry of Public Works, for the maintenance works of the A-2 highway (Madrid-Barcelona). Currently, the new high-speed rail line between Madrid and Barcelona goes just by side of the town, parallel to the A-2 highway. As a matter of fact, Alcolea del Pinar is situated in the highest point in the A-2 highway between Madrid and Barcelona (1200 meters above sea level, 3600 feet.
Alcolea del Pinar has several touristic attractions, being the most relevant the 'Casa de Piedra' (Stone house). The 'Casa de Piedra' was built by Lino Bueno in the early 20th century, within a solid, large rock. With the single use of a pick, Lino Bueno succeeded in creating a real home within the rock, with no any other construction material but the rock itself. The construction took 16 years, and Lino Bueno died when he was still working in the creation of another room on the upper floor.
Restaurants are limited. Two bars offers casual services, the "Isidoro Confiteria" and the "Benito". Both bars are well-known by its political orientation, being the "Isidoro Confiteria" the 'representative' of the left-wing -in fact is owner is the current Mayor, from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)- and the "Benito" a traditional, right-wing bar, with only conservative newspapers available ( ABC, La Razon) by contrast with the Isidoros' only available newspaper [El Pais].
Some popular Alcolea natives include individuals such as "el peluco", currently a gas station employee in the area, and widely known by its moron behaviour or Marcos, currently living in Guadalajara, but better known by its nickname 'Sardinilla' (little-sardine) referring to his weak and ridicule physical condition. The Plaza brother -particularly the twin brothers Jose Alfonso and Nacho- are commonly knonw by its child behaviour -while being already in their 30s- and sometimes their stupidity. His elder brother, Guillermo, is unanimously referred as 'El Pelicano' (the pelican) by his bird-shape nose and ugly constitution. All this folk provides Alcolea with a unique character, a kind of modern bodeville with a vast array of morons and cretins.