ESCÚZAR
Escúzar is perfectly situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Sierra de Tejada is to the south and the Sierra de la Pera is to the north. The town has a population of around 800.
HISTORY
The hamlet of Askurda was one of the most important in the ancient Qempe region, within the Kingdom of Granada, until it was destroyed during the Christian Reconquista.
Later, it was rebuilt and renamed Santa María de Escúzar by the Castilian and Galician settlers who arrived from the seventeenth century onwards. In their honour, its coat of arms features a gold castle, representing Castile, and a gold chalice with a silver wafer, representing Galicia, both symbolising their origins.
THINGS TO SEE
Ermita del Cristo del Rescate
The chapel was built in the nineteenth century and has a small Latin cross floor plan, with the transept flanked by two circular spaces. Inside, the image of Cristo del Rescate is venerated. Located on Calle Cristo del Rescate.
Casa de los Fonseca
The house that once belonged to Don Juan de Fonseca is located at the foot of the church and has direct access to the choir. Built in the late sixteenth century and with later additions, the house's most striking feature is the stone doorway bearing the Fonseca coat of arms. In the entrance hall hangs a portrait of the Bishop of Guadix, who participated in the Council of Trent. The house is located on Calle Ermita.
Torre de Escúzar
A tower attached to the south wall of the parish church, forming the nucleus that gave rise to the complex now comprised of the so-called Casa Grande, the parish church, and the current Town Hall. It is a farmhouse tower of Arab origin, built with irregular stone masonry walls, not laid in courses, and whose freestanding face currently reaches a height of approximately 12 meters. Located on Calle Ermita.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario
A small church with a Latin cross floor plan, accessed through a small atrium attached to the nave. The nave has no side chapels; at its foot stands the choir loft, constructed of wood, whose beams rest on a purlin that, in turn, is supported at its ends by Renaissance-style acanthus corbels. The entire structure is built of brick with concrete infill, covered by a tie-beam roof, and above the crossing is the main altar, presided over by a Baroque-style altarpiece. The tower, which rises at the east end of the church, has a square floor plan and three sections. Located on Calle Ermita.
THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN
Castillejo de Agrón
This fortification had a double enclosure, with remains of the outer masonry wall, 90 centimetres thick, to the west. Remains of walls made of the same material can be found inside the enclosure, to the south and west. Located southwest of the town.
BUS SERVICE
There is a bus service from Escúzar to Granada City, Agrón, Jatar, Jayena and La Malahá. More>
GASTRONOMY
When visiting Escúzar try local dishes such as migas con sardinas (fried breadcrumbs with sardines), olla de San Antón (chickpea stew) and guiso de conejo (rabbit stew). For something sweet try roscos fritos (doughnuts), pestiños (honey pastries), roscos de vino (aniseed biscuits) and tortas de chicharrones (sweet torts topped with pork scratchings).
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Escúzar are La Candelaria, Semana Santa, San Marcos, Fiestas Patronales and Fiesta de las Castañas. More>
WEATHER FOARECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for Escúzar. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of Escúzar is located in the Town Hall. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Escúzar are La Malahá and Ventas de Huelma.