Pósito Square
Introduction
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The origins of Huéscar are to be found in this square, where in 1324 the construction of the Muslim city began at the hands of the emir Ismail I. It was surrounded by a wall that protected the population and several entrance gates that gave access to the main streets, Alhóndiga and Tiendas.
The main buildings within the walls were the Arabic citadel and the aljama mosque, today the Church of Santiago and the Torre del Homenaje (Homage Tower). Another building of special importance was the synagogue, which later, in Christian times, would become the beaterio de Santa Ana.
Pósito Square
Origins
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The Plaza del Pósito or Plaza de la Alhóndiga is one of the most emblematic squares in Huéscar due to its antiquity and for having been one of the nerve centres of the town. Here we find the true origins of the city of Huéscar.
Although there are Iberian and Roman remains, the foundation of the town as such dates back to the Arab period, at the hands of the emir Ismail I, and its construction began on 18th July 1324, according to the testimonies of the time.
Pósito Square
Arab city
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Like the rest of the Arab-founded cities, the medieval city of Huéscar was structured into a medina, citadel and suburbs.
The medina, the fortified city, was organised into narrow, winding streets, whose main function was to serve as access to the houses. There was a commercial area ( zoco) located in Alhondiga Street, but there was also the Jewish quarter where the synagogue was located.
The religious centre was established in the mosque and the political-military centre in the citadel.
The suburbs were the neighbourhoods outside the walls.
Pósito Square
Urban evolution
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The urban morphology changed after the Christian conquest in 1488, with the arrival of the Christian population, the expansion of the city towards the suburbs began, opening up new public spaces and beginning to have larger blocks, larger houses, and a more regular road network, moving away from the narrow, winding streets of the Muslim part of the city.
In the 20th century, and more specifically after the Civil War, the General Town Planning Project was begun and carried out in 1948, to which we owe part of the current urban physiognomy of the town.
Pósito Square
City wall
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
A great wall with a moat surrounded the entire city. On top of the wall there was a sentry walkway.
This was reinforced with a series of towers, and had three large gates: the Puerta del Sol as the main gate (today known as the Arco del Santo Cristo and the only gate that remains today); the Puerta de Castril, located at the end of Calle Tiendas; and lastly, the Puerta del Arrabal or Puerta de Taibilla, located at the end of Calle Alhóndiga, next to the old mosque, today the Church of Santiago.
A fourth gate, of which very little is known, was the Puerta de la Cava, located on the west side of the wall.
Pósito Square
Arch of Santo Cristo
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
It was the main access entrance to the Muslim city, the Puerta del Sol or Caravaca entrance, known today as the Arch of the Holy Christ, owes its name to the fact that inside it there was an image of Christ Crucified.
Between tradition and legend, it is said that the crucifix was found during construction work with a light on, which had been burning since the Arabs entered the Iberian Peninsula. The arch, which still serves as a gateway to the city, is a very emblematic place, especially during Holy Week.
Pósito Square
Synagogue
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The city was not inhabited exclusively by Muslims, but they also lived alongside the Jewish population, who were concentrated in the Jewish corralazos, located in what is known today as Santa Ana street.
This is where the synagogue was located, and after the expulsion of the Jews, this space was consecrated to Christian worship as the Beaterio de Santa Ana.
Today, in what could have been this space there are some houses, in which some of the remains of the synagogue are still preserved, such as access openings and carved beams.
Pósito Square
Streets
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Among the main streets of the Muslim town we find the street called Calle de las Tiendas, named after the fact that most of the shops were located there, and Calle Alhóndiga, whose name comes from the fact that this is where the establishment dedicated to the buying and selling of cereals and other foodstuffs was located, as well as the lodging of foreign merchants.
The rest of the streets were quite narrow and winding. The Callejón de la Quica and the Calle Aceitería are particularly noteworthy.
Pósito Square
Water canals
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Water played a very important role in all areas of daily life in the Muslim world, giving it both hygienic and practical uses. They were the first to establish a series of irrigation channels in Huéscar so that water could reach some of their houses and crops.
After the reconquest in 1509, Queen Juana of Castile granted the inhabitants of Huéscar the right to the water so that they could make use of it. In 1526, the municipal ordinances of Huéscar were drawn up to manage the form of irrigation by means of the irrigation ditches and their maintenance. Nowadays, many of the city's crops are irrigated by various irrigation ditches that are still preserved, such as the Montilla irrigation ditch.
Pósito Square
Introduction
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The origins of Huéscar are to be found in this square, where in 1324 the construction of the Muslim city began at the hands of the emir Ismail I. It was surrounded by a wall that protected the population and several entrance gates that gave access to the main streets, Alhóndiga and Tiendas.
The main buildings within the walls were the Arabic citadel and the aljama mosque, today the Church of Santiago and the Torre del Homenaje (Homage Tower). Another building of special importance was the synagogue, which later, in Christian times, would become the beaterio de Santa Ana.
Pósito Square
Origins
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The Plaza del Pósito or Plaza de la Alhóndiga is one of the most emblematic squares in Huéscar due to its antiquity and for having been one of the nerve centres of the town. Here we find the true origins of the city of Huéscar.
Although there are Iberian and Roman remains, the foundation of the town as such dates back to the Arab period, at the hands of the emir Ismail I, and its construction began on 18th July 1324, according to the testimonies of the time.
Pósito Square
Arab city
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Like the rest of the Arab-founded cities, the medieval city of Huéscar was structured into a medina, citadel and suburbs.
The medina, the fortified city, was organised into narrow, winding streets, whose main function was to serve as access to the houses. There was a commercial area ( zoco) located in Alhondiga Street, but there was also the Jewish quarter where the synagogue was located.
The religious centre was established in the mosque and the political-military centre in the citadel.
The suburbs were the neighbourhoods outside the walls.
Pósito Square
Urban evolution
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The urban morphology changed after the Christian conquest in 1488, with the arrival of the Christian population, the expansion of the city towards the suburbs began, opening up new public spaces and beginning to have larger blocks, larger houses, and a more regular road network, moving away from the narrow, winding streets of the Muslim part of the city.
In the 20th century, and more specifically after the Civil War, the General Town Planning Project was begun and carried out in 1948, to which we owe part of the current urban physiognomy of the town.
Pósito Square
City wall
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
A great wall with a moat surrounded the entire city. On top of the wall there was a sentry walkway.
This was reinforced with a series of towers, and had three large gates: the Puerta del Sol as the main gate (today known as the Arco del Santo Cristo and the only gate that remains today); the Puerta de Castril, located at the end of Calle Tiendas; and lastly, the Puerta del Arrabal or Puerta de Taibilla, located at the end of Calle Alhóndiga, next to the old mosque, today the Church of Santiago.
A fourth gate, of which very little is known, was the Puerta de la Cava, located on the west side of the wall.
Pósito Square
Arch of Santo Cristo
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
It was the main access entrance to the Muslim city, the Puerta del Sol or Caravaca entrance, known today as the Arch of the Holy Christ, owes its name to the fact that inside it there was an image of Christ Crucified.
Between tradition and legend, it is said that the crucifix was found during construction work with a light on, which had been burning since the Arabs entered the Iberian Peninsula. The arch, which still serves as a gateway to the city, is a very emblematic place, especially during Holy Week.
Pósito Square
Synagogue
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
The city was not inhabited exclusively by Muslims, but they also lived alongside the Jewish population, who were concentrated in the Jewish corralazos, located in what is known today as Santa Ana street.
This is where the synagogue was located, and after the expulsion of the Jews, this space was consecrated to Christian worship as the Beaterio de Santa Ana.
Today, in what could have been this space there are some houses, in which some of the remains of the synagogue are still preserved, such as access openings and carved beams.
Pósito Square
Streets
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Among the main streets of the Muslim town we find the street called Calle de las Tiendas, named after the fact that most of the shops were located there, and Calle Alhóndiga, whose name comes from the fact that this is where the establishment dedicated to the buying and selling of cereals and other foodstuffs was located, as well as the lodging of foreign merchants.
The rest of the streets were quite narrow and winding. The Callejón de la Quica and the Calle Aceitería are particularly noteworthy.
Pósito Square
Water canals
Highlights Route, Moorish Route
Water played a very important role in all areas of daily life in the Muslim world, giving it both hygienic and practical uses. They were the first to establish a series of irrigation channels in Huéscar so that water could reach some of their houses and crops.
After the reconquest in 1509, Queen Juana of Castile granted the inhabitants of Huéscar the right to the water so that they could make use of it. In 1526, the municipal ordinances of Huéscar were drawn up to manage the form of irrigation by means of the irrigation ditches and their maintenance. Nowadays, many of the city's crops are irrigated by various irrigation ditches that are still preserved, such as the Montilla irrigation ditch.