Moratalla is a small town and the center of a large
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...
of the same name in the
Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia in southeastern
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
. In 2018, the population of Moratalla was 7,944: some 5,600 in the town of Moratalla itself and the rest in districts such as Otos, Benizar, El Sabinar or Casa Requena.
Its main economic resources are
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...
and
agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people ...
(apricots, almonds, olives and olive oil, wood, barley).
Geography
It is chiefly a mountainous and comparatively cool territory (with regard to the region), snow being frequent in the highest zones (Revolcadores, ) and cold valleys (Campo de San Juan, El Sabinar). It is crossed by minor rivers (Alhárabe, Benamor) which flow into the
Segura. There is a main reservoir of the Segura at El Cenajo. Main representatives of the local fauna are
wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species i ...
s,
Spanish Ibex,
short-toed eagle
The short-toed snake eagle (''Circaetus gallicus''), also known as the short-toed eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers. The genus ...
s and
Moorish turtles. Wide portions of the municipality are protected in ''ZEPAs'' (
Special Protection Area
A Special Protection Area (SPA) is a designation under the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Under the Directive, Member States of the European Union (EU) have a duty to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certa ...
s) or ''LICs'' (
Site of Community Importance
A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration ...
areas).
History
There are some spots with cave paintings in this current municipality that give of people occupancy during the Prehistory.
There was presence of people during the Bronze Age, and presence of people who belonged to Argaric culture during the late Bronze Age.
After the Muslim invasion (711-726), some Berber clans settled in Moratalla.
Moratalla was conquered by the Order of Santiago (a religious military order) in 1212, in the context of Reconquista and the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
An own municipality was established for Moratalla in 1245, after the Castilian conquest in Taifa of Murcia, and it split from the municipality Segura de la Sierra (in Jaén province).
Francis, Duke of Cádiz (13 May 1822 – 17 April 1902),
king consort of Spain, adopted the incognito title of Count of Moratalla after his exile to France in 1868.
Demographics
4.25% inhabitants are foreigners – 1.5% are from other countries of Europe, 2.15% are Africans, 36 (0.45%) are Americans and 12 Asian people (0.15%) reside in Moratalla. The table below shows the population trend during 20th and 21st centuries by the beginning of the decades.
Economy
22.3% of the territory is utilised for agriculture purposes and the most widely grown products are the almonds, the barley, the olives, the oats and the lavender. 12.17% agreements were signed for agriculture and fishing jobs, 46.91% were written for jobs in the industry sector, and 35.87% were signed by workers of the service sector.
Main sights
Moratalla's sights include the Fortress Castle ( es, Castillo Fortaleza), home to the "Tribute Tower" ( es, La Torre del Homenaje), a military-gothic style building which dates from the 15th century. There is also an Arab castle in Benizar, built in the 12th century.
The Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Asunción ( es, Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) dates from the 16th century). Other churches include Santa Ana or San Francisco and the "House of Christ" ( es, La Casa de Cristo), on the mountain, built by the Order of La Merced from the 16th century.
There are two Roman bridges in Moratalla: the Jesus Christ Bridge over the Benámor River, and the Hellin Bridge over the Alhárabe River.
Events
Holy Week
During the
Holy Week
Holy Week ( la, Hebdomada Sancta or , ; grc, Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, translit=Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas, lit=Holy and Great Week) is the most sacred week in the liturgical year in Christianity. In Eastern Churches, w ...
, there is a traditional ''tamborada'', a collective drumming, which can last all day long. In southern Spain, ''tamboradas'' are characteristic of Moratalla as well as of
Mula (in Murcia) and
Hellín
Hellín is a city and Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain located in the province of Albacete, Castilla–La Mancha. The municipality spans across a total area of 781.66 km2. As of 1 January 2020, it has a population of 30,200, which mak ...
and
Tobarra
Tobarra is a municipality in the province of Albacete in Spain, with a population of c. 8,000 as of 2009.
The area is famous for its "Moniquí" variety of apricots, its drum processions (''tamboradas'') and its Holy Week observances, declared by ...
(in Albacete). A unique aspect of Moratalla's Holy Week is that every ''tamborista'' (drummer) dresses in distinct, handmade robes. Drums are also traditionally handmade.
Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo del Rayo (Holy Thör of the Thunder Celebrations) July 11–17
This celebration takes place in the streets of Moratalla, in which cows and bulls are set free. People get together into their ''peñas'', placed in the Eldest Street "Calle Mayor", where they enjoy the party. There is also a fair which may be visited every night from 10 to 17 July. It's like an amusement park with many "street-shops" where you can buy some handmade products.
Notable people
*
Esteban Navarro (Moratalla, 1965), writer. Born in Moratalla.
Images
Image:Moratalla iglesia Asuncion.jpg, Santa María de la Asunción
Image:Moratalla-Buitre-Murcia-Spain-2005.jpg, Old district and Buitre hilltop
Image:Moratalla-Alharabe.jpg, Alhárabe River
Image:Campo-de-san-Juan-Moratalla-Murcia.jpg, Campo de San Juan
See also
*
Inazares
Inazares is a dependent village of Moratalla, Murcia, Spain with a population of 40. It lies in La Rogativa Valley at an altitude of 1.350 m above sea level
Because of its geographic location and its low light pollution, Inazares' sky has been ...
*
Cañada de la Cruz
Cañada de la Cruz is a small village of Spain, belonging to the municipality of Moratalla, in the Region of Murcia.
It lies at metres above sea level, on the southern foothills of ''Los Revolcadores'' (2,027 m), part of the ''Sierra de Moratalla ...
References
Population in 2009 (where 000000=municipality; 000200=city)
External links
Official website
Asociación de tamboristas
Information and tourism resources
Viva Murciacommunity info for Moratalla
{{authority control
Municipalities in the Region of Murcia