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- publicado 09.09.2024
- por Cuenqueando
- PriegoLa Alcarria
Priego
Nature
Priego is the northernmost point of La Alcarria Conquense, bordering the Serranía de Cuenca.
Priego has a rich natural heritage that exceeds its municipal area and extends to other nearby towns. It belongs to the Natura 2000 Network, is a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) and a Special Conservation Area (ZEC).
As we get closer we can see the Priego Strait between the Rodenal and Degollá mountain ranges. For 12 years the Priego City Council has been organizing a race to the top of Cerro de la Degollá, which this year will be on November 17 at 11am.
The municipality is bathed by the waters of the Trabaque, Guadiela and Escabas rivers. The Escabas river flows down the mountain range from the El Hosquillo natural park and makes its way towards Alcarria through the Estrecho de Priego, a gorge with high limestone walls that is home to a large community of griffon vultures. Eight kilometres from the town, in the direction of Albendea, the Escabas collects the waters of the Trabaque and, a little further down, flows into the Guadiela river in a place popularly known as Las Juntas, located a short distance from the Albendea Mausoleum.
Deer, roe deer, wild boar, rabbits, foxes and badgers are some of the mammals that populate the area of this Cuenca town.
History
As with Huete, Priego received the title of city from King Juan II in 1440, father of Isabel la Católica, thanks to the mediation of Pedro Carrillo who was Third Lord of Priego and chief warden of the city of Huete, chronicler and falconer of the king. Huete has held the title of city since July 26, 1428.
Today, Priego has a great tourist attraction due to its natural environment and the range of services made up of bars, restaurants, shops, hostels, apartments and rural houses. In addition, pottery and wicker, historic professions of this municipality of Cuenca, still represent the hallmark of the town today, where some pottery workshops are preserved. Special mention must be made of the via ferrata of the Strait of Priego, which since its installation in 2016 has become one of the main tourist attractions of the municipality. Next to it, on the Escabas River and the road that leads to Cañamares, a climbing area has also been set up.
Priego is one of the most populated towns in the north of the province, which is why it has many public services such as a high school, a school, a health centre, a women's centre, a consumer office, a social services area, a Civil Guard barracks, a library, a retirement home, a petrol station, three bank branches, a livestock office, a helipad for health emergencies, an environmental agents office, a municipal swimming pool, a senior citizens' home, a municipal sports centre, a post office and a fire station.
Architecture
Casa consistorial. Town Hall. It is located in the town's main square, the Plaza de los Condes de Priego, to which it once belonged. The 16th century building is in the Renaissance style and is characterised by its sober and elegant decoration.
Torreón de Despeñaperros. It is the only vestige of the Arab fortress that remains in the town. It has a prismatic shape and is very deteriorated. Today, only this tower remains, the only representation of the three that once housed this monumental complex, which was protected by a wall, of which there are still remains.
Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari. It is a large late Gothic building from the 16th century. Built in 1540 by Pedro de Alviz, its interior has enormous pillars that support the complex cross vaults of each of the three naves in which it is structured. The church tower, in Renaissance style, rises to more than 30 m in height and has a perfect prismatic shape.
Convento del Rosal. It is a Conceptionist convent built in 1525 on the initiative of Diego Carrillo de Mendoza, parish priest of Zaorejas and choirmaster of the cathedral of Cuenca. The work was developed by the architect Pedro de Alviz. It is located two kilometres from Priego. Although in a state of ruin, it preserves the Gothic church that was part of a much larger building that stood until the beginning of the 20th century and the arches of what was the cloister of the convent.
Convento de San Miguel de la Victoria. Founded in 1577 by Fernando Carrillo de Mendoza, Count of Priego who participated in the Battle of Lepanto and was Juan de Austria's chief steward. The count swore that if he and his sons returned from the war alive he would order the construction of a convent, which finally occurred. It suffered a landslide and was rebuilt in the 18th century.
Puente Liende.
The bridge consists of a single arch that completely crosses the river, above which it stands at a height of 8 m. It was built by order of Charles V in the 16th century.
Without a doubt one of our favorite towns to visit in Cuenquear!