War! What is good for? Making a new town.

  Today we are doing old and new Spain, a combination of narrow streets, partly modified and long stretches of the new suburban houses which grace the villages near urban centres.  We are going into Purchil and onto Belicena. They, with nearby Ambroz, were formed into a single municipality called Vegas del Genil.  Purchill is the regal capital.  Like so much of rural Spain, the population rose up till the 1950s [ober 1600 in this case], fell dramatically till the 2000s [about 900] and has since grown to over 2200 as people have moved out of the city.







Where we turn west we pass the 16th century church of San Jose. It has some Early Modern sculptures, one of Our Lady of Soorws from the 16th century and two by Pedro de Mena, a Virgin and Child and Our Lady of Bethlehem from the 17th century. The church has 13 reviews and 4.8 stars.  Last September ‘La abuela aventurera’ noted ‘Sunday, September 21, 2025, a significant day to mark in the town of Purchil. The newly ordained priest Antonio Santos García celebrates his first Mass at 10:00 a.m. in the town where he was born.’


You know we haven’t been to a pet shop for a while.  https://agrovegas.wixsite.com/animales-plantas/blank  Cecilio was impressed. ‘Everything you need for your vegetable garden, garden, and pets. They also offer dog grooming. Agustín is an expert always willing to share his knowledge with anyone who needs it. A specialized store where you can ask questions, of which there are only a few left.’


We will go on through the semi-countryside.  We are by the Pabellon Municipal Angela Ortiz.  This gym gets 4 reviews, 4.3 stars and not a word.  I am not able to find out who Angela Ortiz is and why the heck a gym was named after them.


 We will skirt Belicena and we are going to Santa Fe. Santa Fe owes its origins to the War against Granada.  In 1483 they first built a camp.  In 1490 the Monarchs built a fortified town as the basis of operations.  Apparently it took 80 days and included walls and several towers.  This spot then became a place of note.  Christopher Columbus signed off on going to find India in 1492.  The surrender of Granada was also agreed here. Fast forward four hundred years and the pueblo became a centre of the sugar industry, with twenty five refineries established.


Santa Fe has been on a generally upward trajectory viz population. From about 4000 in the 1840s, it continued up - with a slight dip in the 1950s, and today is the home of about 14000 people. Currently the PP have 8 councillors, the PSOE 7, Vox 1 and United Left the same.


We end the day near Las Almendras Asador - which google labels a takeaway.  87 people give it 8.4 stars. Rafael said, a week ago, ‘Delicious homemade food, everything was very clean and they were fast, we will definitely be back.’   Some day the food can be variable.  Jesus, however, said ‘A delicious roast chicken with its almond sauce, finger-licking good. And the service is spectacular; they've become our favorite roast chickens.’










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