Juviles
Encyclopedia
Juviles is a village and municipality in the central Alpujarras
, in the province of Granada
in Spain
. The village is located at 36° 57' north and 3° 13' east, and stands at an altitude of 1,255 metres, on the road from Trevélez
to Ugíjar
. The municipality has an area of 12 square km, and its population in 2003 was estimated at 160.
Although traditionally agricultural, the area under cultivation in the municipality is now only 35 hectares. However, like Trevélez it is known for its air-cured ham
. In Moorish
times it was a centre of the silk
industry.
A fortress was established in Juviles in the 8th century, though the origins of the village are probably older. It acquired strategic importance during the Middle Ages, often serving as a refuge for local people in times of civil strife. In 913 it was conquered by Aberramán III. From the 12th to the 16th century the village served as the administrative centre of a "taha" of 12 settlements with 23 smaller hamlets associated with them. Following the 1500 morisco
rebellion, Fernando the Catholic destroyed the fortress as a measure against further revolts; its ruins can still be seen. In 1572, as in other Alpujarran areas, the remaining morisco population was replaced by Christians brought from Castile
.
Alpujarras
thumb|250px|A typical Alpujarran village, [[Busquístar]].La Alpujarra is a landlocked historical region in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada...
, in the province of Granada
Granada (province)
Granada is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the provinces of Albacete, Murcia, Almería, Jaén, Córdoba, Málaga, and the Mediterranean Sea . Its capital city is also called Granada.The province covers an area of 12,635 km²...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The village is located at 36° 57' north and 3° 13' east, and stands at an altitude of 1,255 metres, on the road from Trevélez
Trevélez
Trevélez is a village in the province of Granada, Spain. Its population in 2002 was estimated at 799. The river Trevélez flows through the village...
to Ugíjar
Ugíjar
Ugíjar is a municipality located in the province of Granada, Spain. According to the 2005 census , the city has a population of 2524 inhabitants....
. The municipality has an area of 12 square km, and its population in 2003 was estimated at 160.
Although traditionally agricultural, the area under cultivation in the municipality is now only 35 hectares. However, like Trevélez it is known for its air-cured ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
. In Moorish
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
times it was a centre of the silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
industry.
A fortress was established in Juviles in the 8th century, though the origins of the village are probably older. It acquired strategic importance during the Middle Ages, often serving as a refuge for local people in times of civil strife. In 913 it was conquered by Aberramán III. From the 12th to the 16th century the village served as the administrative centre of a "taha" of 12 settlements with 23 smaller hamlets associated with them. Following the 1500 morisco
Morisco
Moriscos or Mouriscos , meaning "Moorish", were the converted Christian inhabitants of Spain and Portugal of Muslim heritage. Over time the term was used in a pejorative sense applied to those nominal Catholics who were suspected of secretly practicing Islam.-Demographics:By the beginning of the...
rebellion, Fernando the Catholic destroyed the fortress as a measure against further revolts; its ruins can still be seen. In 1572, as in other Alpujarran areas, the remaining morisco population was replaced by Christians brought from Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
.