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Alcalá de los Gazules is on the famous "Ruta del Toro".
By Dee McMath
Alcalá de los Gazules is situated right in
the centre of the Province of Cádiz, between sea and mountain.
It is just 23 kilometers east of the village of Medina
Sidonia. Most tourists will pass the village on the A381 road
from Los Barrios
to Jerez.
This Andalucia white village has remained largely
unchanged over recent years and the old town centre was given official
"Historic-Artistic" status in 1984. This privilege was
awarded in recognition of the town's excellent eclectic examples
of baroque and neoclassic architecture, as well as the typically
Andaluz houses which give it an authentically local atmosphere.
Alcalá was also recognized in 1924 by the world famous Granada
writer and poet, Federico
García Lorca, who wrote in appreciation of his Andaluz
heritage "I breath for Málaga…. for Cádiz,
for Alcalá de los Gazules, for what is intimately Andaluz."
 Alcalá de los Gazules is on the famous 'Ruta
del Toro' and is at the heart of the vast Parque
Natural de los Alcornocales
('alcornocales' is Spanish for cork trees) - a nature-lovers paradise.
As well as many miles of greenery, blissful tranquility, clean air
and country walks for contemplation, there are also opportunities
to buy local artisan products in some of the small shops in the
town. Not only nature lovers are attracted to Alcalá, but
also those interested in both big and small game hunting.
The town centre is compact, with its uneven streets;
noble plazas and dazzling whitewashed walls. Off the tourist beaten
track, there are fewer bars and restaurants than in coastal towns
and you are less likely to come across any English speakers or British
menus. There is also less choice of where to stay, with just a handful
of two and three star 'hostals' and hotels in and around the town.
At the time of the Muslim conquest the village became
known as "Qalat at Yazula" or "Castle of the Gazules"
has been handed over by the king of Granada. There are still some
remains of the Castle from the time of the Arabic and Caliph reign.
It was in 1264, when the city was won back by the Christians under
the reign of Alfonso X (The Wise One), which was when its present
name "Alcalá de los Gazules" was first given. Some
years after Alfonso, Alcalá became the responsibility of
the Duke and Duchess of Alba, who built churches and convents, such
as the Churches of San Jorge and San Francisco and the Santa Domingo
Convent, all of which you can still visit today. Other historic
monuments well worth visiting in the town are the Sanctuary of the
Virgen de los Santos (5 kilometers outside of Alcalá) and
the Fuente de la Salada - of Roman origin and built to allow the
flow of a natural source of spring water.
Important celebrations in Alcalá de
los Gazules
- Carnival the first week of March
- Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week)
- St. George's Day on the 23rd April
" San Jorge" is the patron saint of the town.
- The town celebrates its fair the last week in
August.
- On the 12th September is the Romería (Pilgrimage)
of Nuestra Señora de los Santos. This fiesta dates back
to the 15th century and is the most popular one of its kind in
the province of Cadiz.
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