Mojácar

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Mojácar
Municipality

Seal
Mojácar
Location in Spain.
Coordinates: 37°08′25″N 1°51′05″W / 37.14028°N 1.85139°W / 37.14028; -1.85139
Country Spain
Autonomous community Andalusia
Province Almería
Comarca Levante Almeriense
Government
 • Mayor Rosa Maria Cano Montoya (PP)
Area
 • Total 72 km2 (28 sq mi)
Elevation 152 m (499 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Total 7,745
 • Density 110/km2 (280/sq mi)
Demonym Mojaqueros
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Mojácar is a municipality situated in the south east of the Province of Almería (Andalucia) in southern Spain, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. It is 90 km from the capital of the province, Almería. It is an elevated mountain village displaying the traditional white colour from its earlier days. There is also a tourist resort to the south of the town, on the coast, called Mojacar Playa.

History

Mojácar has been inhabited by many different groups since antiquity. Populated since the Bronze Age around 2000 BC, traders such as the Phoenicians and Carthaginians arrived to serve the growing communities. Under Greek dominion, the settlement was called Murgis-Akra, whence came the Latinized Moxacar, the Moorish Muxacra and finally the current name of Mojácar. The North African Islamic Moors established themselves in Spain in the early 8th century and the province of Almería came under the authority of the Caliphate of Damascus, and was later ruled by the Umayyads of Córdoba.

Under this second enlightened rule, Mojácar quickly grew in size and importance. With the coronation of Muhammad I of Córdoba in Granada, Mojácar and its lands became incorporated into the Nasrid sultanate, and the town found itself on the frontier with the Christian forces to the east. Watchtowers and fortresses were built, or reinforced, during the 14th century, which nevertheless did little to discourage Christian incursions and fierce battles such as the bloody event of 1435 when much of the population of Mojácar was put to the sword.

On June 10, 1488, the leaders of the region agreed to submit to the Christian forces, although Mojácar's alcaide refused to attend, considering his town to be already Spanish. At that time there was a meeting at Mojácar's Moorish fountain, where a pact of free association between the local Moors, Jews and Christians was agreed. Mojácar, once again, began to expand until the early 18th century, when the census of the time recorded 10,000 people. Around the middle of the 19th century, Mojácar began another period of decline.

Several severe droughts brought about this drop in the town's fortunes, with a consequent emigration to northern Spain, other parts of Europe and to South America. The depopulation of the town was halted in the 1960s when tourism began to reverse the trend.

Climate

Mojácar has more than 3000 hours of sun per year. Rainfall is seldom and weak, with an average rainfall of 200mm per year. The average yearly temperature is around 20 °C. Winter is normally mild. Mojácar is classified as being in the 11 climate zone (the highest climate zone) that means the temperature in Mojácar is never lower than 4 ºC.

The average temperature in winter varies between 10 ºC and 18 ºC.

The average temperature in summer varies between 26 ºC and 32 ºC.

Thanks to Mojácar's proximity to the sea, the maximum temperature in summer is considered mild. However, in the inland zones of Almeria during summer, day time temperatures can reach 40 ºC; even the low evening temperature is high enough to warrant the use of airconditioning, especially during June, July and August.

Economy

Mojácar has the highest GDP per capita in the whole of Andalusia.

The GDP per capita on Mojácar is slightly higher than € 90,000 per year

The average GDP per capita in Andalusia is €20,453 per year, which is significantly lower than that of Spain as a whole.

Culture

The Indalo, or Mojácar man, is a magical totem said to bring protection and good luck. From times past was painted onto the fronts of houses once the whitewash was dry with the belief that it kept away the evil eye and protected those within from storms. The figure might be interpreted as a man holding a rainbow between his outstretched arms. The original totem is thought to be around 4,500 years old, and the earliest known one appears among other prehistoric paintings in a cave in Vélez-Blanco. The name, Indalo was coined by a group of artists and intellectuals who settled in Mojácar in the early 1960s, attracted by the atmosphere of the town, and who commercialised the totem which today signifies the whole province of Almería. Due to tourism, the Indalo Man has spread in popularity and has been seen on houses in various parts of Europe such as Brittany in France and Cornwall in England.Source: INE (Spain)

Mojácar is home to the Fundación Valparaíso, an international artists' colony - closed since May 1, 2013.

Food

The traditional dishes still found in Mojácar denote the rural nature and the Arabic origins of the village. Amongst its plain cuisine, the most well known dishes are: Gurullos, Pelotas, Gachas, Migas, Ajo Colorao, and Pescado frito.

Festivals

The most important festivals (Spanish: fiestas) in Mojácar are:

  • Moors and Christians: the nearest weekend to 10 June.
  • San Agustín: the patron saint of Mojácar. The fiesta falls on 28 August.
  • Romería de San Isidro: 15 May.
  • San Juan Hogueras: (Bonfires of Saint John) 23–24 June.
  • La Virgen del Rosario: (Virgin of the Rosary) is the "patrona" i.e. female patron saint of Mojácar. The fiesta falls on 7 October.

References

    External links

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