ALICÚN
Alicún is unique for its spectacular scenery, surrounded by orchards and terraces overflowing with luxuriant flowers and vegetation. Its Muslim past is can be seen clearly through the chimneys which rise from the rooftops, almost like oriental lanterns. It has around 200 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The first cultural reference to Alicún, according to Idrisi (a twelfth-century Muslim geographer) concerned its hot spring, protected by vegetation. During the Roman era, hot springs were installed on a salutiferous spring called al-Hamman Vexitan, which translates as Baños Huecijanos.
According to a donation document in which the Catholic Monarchs ceded the Taha de Marchena to Don Gutierre de Cárdenas in 1494, in the Middle Ages, the town was registered as a neighborhood of Huécija. In the sixteenth century, Alicún became its own entity as a town, being one of the ten places that make up the Ducado de Maqueda. This century was characterized by the Moorish Rebellion and the subsequent expulsion of the Moors in 1570, events that affected the town, which remained depopulated and abandoned until 1574, when it was repopulated by people from Castile, Western Andalusia and the Levante area. This crisis did not stabilize until the eighteenth century, when there was an increase in the population and economy corresponding to the Old Regime.
In 1835, after the abolition of the Lordship of Maqueda y Arcos, Alicún was granted a new independence regime, acquiring the power to appoint a Mayor and a Councilor in the town. Throughout the twentieth century, the town saw a major economic boom thanks to the Ohanes grape. The subsequent crises of the century affected the economy of Alicún significantly, causing its decline. Currently, its activity is oriented towards the cultivation of citrus, horticulture, fruit trees, and poultry farming.
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
The Modernist Church was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, inspired by classical constructions. It was built to replace the previous temple, of which you can still see the domed dressing room of its main chapel in the town’s cemetery. Located on Avenida de Jose Antonio.
Balsa del Minarete
The reservoir has been preserved since the times of Arab rule but has been used by numerous human settlements ever since. It is thought that its waters were once thermal, but lost this quality over time. By 1983, water was still pouring out of the reservoir floor. It is surrounded by a small wall on which there is currently a fence that surrounds the entire area as prevention against possible falls. Currently, the reservoir is used for irrigation purposes. Located in the town square, next to Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación.
Antiguo Templo
The construction date of the Temple is unknown, however, it is known that the building served as the Parish Church until Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación was built, and that it must have originated prior to 1900. Currently, only the chapel has been preserved, which is part of the current cemetery. An upcoming restoration of the chapel is planned. Located on Calle Huecija.
Ermita de las Ánimas
This small Chapel houses the image of the Virgen del Carmen and locals have the habit of crossing themselves every time they pass through the place, making promises and giving alms. In 2009, its restoration began. Located on AL-3405.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE
Ermita de la Santa Cruz
The Chapel was built in 2000 by brothers Francisco and Antonio González Guillen, as the previous one had deteriorated significantly. Before the Chapel was built, there stood only a wooden cross, which was worshiped each May with the offering of roscos (aniseed doughnuts). Later, by 1939-1940, the wooden cross was replaced by one made of cement, built by Antonio Martínez Romero, by a promise he made to the Holy Cross so that his daughter would be born well and healthy. New crosses replaced the previous ones until the Chapel was built. Located on a hill near the town, in the Rodeo del Peñón.
GASTRONOMY
In terms of gastronomy, the main delicacies on offer in the town are dishes such as the fritada alpujarreña, conejo al ajillo (rabbit cooked in garlic), cocina mareá (bean stew), migas (fried breadcrumbs served with pork), encebollado con hígado de cerdo (liver cooked in onion), tarbinas colorás (potato and pepper stew) and gachas saladas (salty pudding). The cold meats, oranges and grapes are also particularly popular. There is also a big variety of sweet treats, such as roscos de Semana Santa (Easter doughnuts), soplillos (almond meringues), mantecados de miel (honey lard cakes) and rosquillas (aniseed doughnuts).
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Alicún are Fiesta de San Sebastián, Fiesta del Voto, Carnavales and Semana Santa. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Alicún are Huécijar, Alhama de Almería and Íllar.
