Benalup-Casas Viejas

Costa de la Luz Details

 

History

This town has extensive prehistoric remains from previous inhabitants who have left their mark in the many megaliths and rock art that abound.  
In 1264 Alfonso X el Sabio Benalup conquered the town again and the Castillo lands were sold in 1439 to the council.

In the sixteenth century a shrine was built to Casas Viejas, and little by little the area became populated and developed. Today Benalup Casas Viejas derives income from agriculture and tourism. Also a fairly significant percentage of the population works in construction, moving to the coast every day to work there.

Demographics

The number of inhabitants over ten years grew in 1996 to 2005 from 5,971 persons to 6,754 people

The Museum of Domes, The Church of Our Lady of Socorro, The Tower of Ben-a-tion "La Morita" and Arabic architecture from the ninth century AD. The Cuevas del Tajo of the figures, dating from the late Neolithic period, The Monastery of San Jose del Cuervo, which belonged to the Order of Carmelites Descalzos and Construido in the eighteenth century. The weapon crest is a shield symbol next to the Tower of La Morita, and The Museum of Domes

Gastronomy and fine dinning

Game: deer, boar, rabbit, partridge, pheasant, Tagarninas stew, Snails and cabrillas, and Asparagus soups will tempt anyone.

Francisco Gutierrez Cruz the Seisdedos, Maria Silva Cruz known as the libertarian, Sergio Rios a famous Football player who died in a traffic accident and Nicholas Vela, who was The Mayor of Benalup and a activist for the independence of Benalup.
The events of Casas Viejas 
On January 11, 1933 a group of anarchists of the CNT decided to proclaim the revolution and communism, after dismissing the Mayor they made an attempt to take the Civil Guard barracks where a sergeant and three soldiers died in the fighting. Their sergeant and one of their numbers died but they did not achieve their purpose.

In 2008 the town had a population of 7139 inhabitants with a population density of 60 persons per square kilometre. Its square area is 60.7 km ².

The geographical coordinates are 36  20N, 5  48 W and the altitude above sea level is 112 meters. It is 63 kilometres from the provincial capital, Cadiz and is located on the Route Toro. The town has an agricultural tradition.

The meaning of the town name which gained its independence from Medina-Sidonia in 1991 is linked to the tower of Ben Alup The Arabic history describes a passage of an Arabic legend in 711AD where Segun means "son of the wolf”.

 

 

The Commanding officers when questioned always maintained that in so doing they, severely suppressing the revolt and that they had received direct orders from the Government of the Republic. These facts led to the down fall of the cabinet and Manuel Azana, as the public was shocked at the harsh crack down of farmers.

Twinning
The Flag of Spain Torrent Benalup-Casas Viejas is twinned with the City of Valencia Torrent. The Towns twinning is due to the large number of people who migrated to Andalusia and Valencia and in particular to this City. Given the number of registered immigrants The City Council decided that it made sense to twin the city with the Town in the province of Cadiz.

The government of the Republic sent the forces of the Civil Guard and the local Assault Guard were shot when the Civil Guard entered the village, burning several houses and then proceeded to a series of summary trials of captured persons who were immediately shot. Houses were burnt of people suspected of being accomplices including that of a well known anarchist killing many of the people inside.