History of Peligros
It is known that the first Roman settlements were established on this site, with at least two villas built in the second and third centuries. During Islamic rule, it was known as Bericlox and served as a farmstead in the Vega, a strategically important location for Elvira or Ilíberis. The Battle of La Higueruela took place near the site in 1431, with Christians and Muslims fighting each other. The Granadan army lost more than 10,000 men in the battle.
When the Reconquista ended and settlements became established again, 16 of the 20 families who returned to Peligros were of Muslim origin and four were Christian. Between the late fifteenth century and 1578, the population remained stable. Following the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1569, the town was left with barely 100 inhabitants, but it developed during the eighteenth century. About the time of the first census, called the Vecindario de Campoflorido y Urtariz (1712–1717), the town grew and took on a distinct administrative and ecclesiastical identity.
Following their uprising, the Moriscos were expelled and only five families remained in the town. Following the final repopulation, however, sixteen settlers arrived, ultimately shaping the town’s surroundings with their presence. By 1578, the population had grown to twenty-one families and 84 inhabitants, most of whom were newly married couples from Castile, León and Galicia with few children.
A century after repopulation in the 17th century, Pulianas had 200 residents, compared to 57 in the village. However, by 1840, the population had increased by 200%.
On 19 April 1956, a strong earthquake hit Albolote, killing 13 people. Due to their proximity, this earthquake was most intensely felt in Peligros. There was widespread alarm, objects fell and around 400 homes were affected, albeit only slightly. Only 50 of the affected homes had significant cracks and seven others had to be evacuated due to the risk of collapse. The national government funded the reconstruction of the worst-affected homes.
The now-defunct Las Cuevas neighbourhood has suffered major flooding several times in recent decades. On one occasion, a couple from outside Peligros drowned while driving on the highway between Güevéjar and Granada due to torrential rains. Following these repeated incidents, residents of the neighbourhood were relocated to another part of the town. Today, the Las Cuevas area no longer exists; part of it has been filled in with earth and now houses an outdoor public car park, fairgrounds, a school and homes.
The great changes it has undergone make us forget what that small town was like decades ago. It has grown considerably and now boasts numerous two- or three-storey buildings, residential developments and new neighbourhoods. The streets are constantly being remodelled to adapt to the modern world. Old houses are being demolished to make way for new buildings, turning this into a modern town where there is hardly any need to travel to the capital to access services.