Algar
Algar is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It has a population of 1433 inhabitants (INE 2022). It is located at an altitude of 212 meters and 87 kilometers from the provincial capital, Cádiz. It forms part of the White Towns Route, next to the Majaceite River and is very close to the Guadalcacín reservoir. The Cañada de la Sierra passes through it, originating in Jerez de la Frontera.
Toponymy
Algar, called Santa María de Guadalupe de Algar until 1842, is located near the Majaceite River and the Serranía de Ronda. The place names that present Algar as the first or only element are very frequent throughout Arabized Spain. We can cite among others: Fuentes de Algar (Callosa d'En Sarria, Alicante), Algar de Mesa (Guadalajara), Algar de Palancia (Valencia), Poblado de Algar (Córdoba), Río Algar (Alicante), etc. In all cases, it has its origin from the Arabic al-gār, the cave. The diminutive Romance derivative Algarinejo (Granada) must be included here.
Nature
The town is located in a privileged enclave: next to the Montes de Propio de Jerez, at the entrance to the Los Alcornocales natural park, and includes in its municipal area the Guadalcacín reservoir, the source of Tempul and the Tajo del Águila, among other natural resources.
At the end of September, it is a tradition to go to the countryside to listen to the bellowing of the deer.
History
Its history is significantly different from that of the rest of the towns that surround it, since, despite the fact that human remains appear from the Neolithic, the origin of the town dates back to 1773. It was created by the rich merchant Indiano Domingo López de Carvajal, born in Santa María de Duanacos, Lugo. Rooted in Galicia, on the death of his father in 1717 he emigrated to New Spain (Mexico) where he was captivated by the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe del Tepeyac, known by the Indians as the Virgen del Tornaviaje, since her sanctuary on the hill del Tepeyac, north of Mexico City, became a popular departure point to Puerto de la Vera Cruz to embark on a ship to Spain. Legend has it that upon his return to the peninsula, the ship is struck by a terrible storm in the middle of the sea and he entrusts himself to the Virgin of Tepeyac with the promise of erecting a church on Spanish lands. And it is so that with the wealth amassed in America, he bought some pastures in 1757 to later populate them with settlers.
Demographics
| Algar demographic evolution figure between 1842 and 2020 |
 |
Rule population (1842-1991, except 1857 and 1860 which is a de facto population) or resident population (2001-2011) according to the Population Censuses since 1842.Population according to INE's 2020 municipal standards. |
Economy
Today, Algar lives from agriculture, livestock, leather work, wood and rural tourism.
In 1997, due to the floods that filled the Guadalcacín reservoir, the town was cut off from communication.
Evolution of outstanding municipal debt
| Graphic of evolution of living debt of the City of Algar between 2008 and 2019 |
 |
Living debt of Algar City Council in thousands of Euros according to data from the Ministry of Finance and Ad. Public. |
Culture
Heritage
- Church of Santa Maria de Guadalupe.
The Main Altar is presided over by the Virgin of Guadalupe (patron saint of the town), the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Joseph the Worker and the crucified, followed by the Nazarene and the Virgin of Sorrows. In the next chapel, the Heart of Jesus and the Virgin of the Sacred Heart preside, there is a crucified and two small images. In front is the Child Jesus. Next to the baby Jesus is the painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe, restored from the original that was given to Don Domingo in Mexico. And in the last chapel is the Virgen del Carmen, San Judas Tadeo, San Juan Bautista and the Patron Saint of the town San Nicolás.
- Bullring of Algar.
- Alcala de Algar gate.
- Tempul Castle.
- Castillo de Pedro Lobato.
- Calduba Tower.
Parties and other activities
- Spring Fair
This traditional festival is celebrated in May. In the past it was known as the Algar Livestock Fair.
- The fair in honor of the patron saint Santa Maria de Guadalupe
It is celebrated in the month of September. The procession runs along the street of the Town Hall passing the image on a carpet of salt and recalls the Mexican origin of its founder.
Activities: Procession of the patron saint of the municipality. Performance of the municipal music band.
- Rally
The rally, known throughout Andalusia and scoring for the Andalusian Mountain Championship, whose date is normally in March or April, has carved out an important place within the town's traditional festivities.
- Romería de San Nicolás
On the first Sunday of June the pilgrimage is celebrated, in honor of the patron saint of Algar, San Nicolás, who is accompanied until On the outskirts of the town and in the middle of the countryside, the day is spent with competitions on horseback and games of a ludic nature. Of particular note are the decorated floats and the horses, led in a caravan to the place of celebration, "Rancho Morera" a few kilometers from the town. A rociera mass is celebrated there in honor of the Patron Saint and various culinary, leisure, contest, game and test activities related to the world of the horse are carried out, essentially on a day of coexistence between the people of Algar and their visitors.
- Holy Week
the people take out in procession through the main streets of the town the images of La Dolorosa, El Cautivo, a Crucified, Heart of Jesus.
- Traditional Alfombra de Sal
It takes place on September 6 in the morning, the whole town participates in this activity and the Algar shield is made at the door of the town hall and it is stepped on on the day of the Virgin.
- Algar Historical Recreation
- Ninth to Santa Maria de Guadalupe
Nine days in which we pray and sing to the Virgin, on the [eighth day] the Virgin is kissed by the hand.
- Rosary of the Aurora
On September 5, 6 and 7, the [Holy Rosary] is prayed in the street, guided by the banner of the Virgin and the guiding cross.
- Pregón de las Fiestas Patronales
- Fiesta de la Primavera
It is celebrated at Finca La Atalaya, on that day many activities are carried out in a place in the mountains, children and adults participate and food is offered for everyone and gifts for the children.
- Cruces de Mayo
In the month of May, crosses with flowers are made through the streets, made by the main women's associations and older active people
- Living Bethlehem and Christmas
The live nativity scene takes place in the Plaza de Toros. The Three Kings Parade is celebrated on January 5 at night and when the parade is about to end, the Three Wise Men offer gold, incense and myrrh to the child in the church and then go to the town hall with the pages to deliver gifts to the children.
- Carnival of Algar
At the end of March it is one of the last to be held in Cádiz, so the town receives many visitors, there are prizes for the best costume and also floats.
Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Algar is varied and rich in natural resources. Its dishes are derived from game, native products and confectionery. From big game, fallow deer, deer and wild boar; of the smallest partridge, pheasant and rabbit. The venison is stewed with fine herbs and in sauce. The pork rinds also stand out
Tagarninas are boiled from the land, scrambled eggs are made with asparagus, and these also with rice. The snails-gitanillos, cabrillas and burgaos- are made with spicy sauce; olives are seasoned. Garlic, tomato and gazpacho soups. The confectionery is handmade: oil and egg donuts, piñonate, oil cakes, muffins, brown bread, quince meat, etc.