In 1488, the leaders of the
region agreed to submit to Christian forces at an
historic meeting at Mojacar's Moorish
fountain with a pact of free association between
the local Moors, Jews and Christians.
Mojácar
expanded until the early 18th century when
records show that several severe droughts
brought about a drop in the town's fortunes, with
a subsequent emigration of inhabitants to northern Spain, Europe
and South America.
By the 1960s tourism began to
reverse the trend. Today, Mojácar remains loyal to
the past with its architecture; the whitewashed houses
and the openness of the people. Perhaps one result of this continuous
mixing of cultures and religions is the Indalo or Mojácar man. This magical totem is
said to bring protection and good luck, and was painted onto the fronts of
houses once the whitewash was dry: keeping away the
evil eye and protecting those within from
storms. The figure might be interpreted to be a man
holding a rainbow between his outstretched arms. The
original totem is thought to be around 4,500 years
old, and the earliest known one appears among other
prehistoric paintings in a cave in
Vélez-Blanco. The name, Indalo, is recent, and was
coined by a group of artists and intellectuals who
settled in Mojácar in the early sixties, attracted
by the magic and bewitchment of the town. The totem today
signifies the whole province of Almería.
Source: INE (Spain)
History
Mojacar has been populated since the Bronze Age around 2000 BC, Phoenician and Carthaginian traders arrived to serve the growing communities. Under Greek rule, it was called Murgis-Akra then the Latinized Moxacar, the Moorish Muxacra and finally the current "Mojácar". Moors established themselves in Spain in the early 8th century when the province of Almería came under the authority of the Caliphate of Damascus and later ruled from Cordoba. Mojácar quickly grew in size and importance. With the coronation of of Muhammad I in Granada, Mojácar and its lands became part of the Nazari sultanate, and found itself on the frontier with Christian forces to the east. Watchtowers and fortresses were built or reinforced during the 14th century, doing little to discourage Christian incursions and fierce battles like the event of 1435 where much of the population of Mojácar was put to the sword.
Mojacar has been populated since the Bronze Age around 2000 BC, Phoenician and Carthaginian traders arrived to serve the growing communities. Under Greek rule, it was called Murgis-Akra then the Latinized Moxacar, the Moorish Muxacra and finally the current "Mojácar". Moors established themselves in Spain in the early 8th century when the province of Almería came under the authority of the Caliphate of Damascus and later ruled from Cordoba. Mojácar quickly grew in size and importance. With the coronation of of Muhammad I in Granada, Mojácar and its lands became part of the Nazari sultanate, and found itself on the frontier with Christian forces to the east. Watchtowers and fortresses were built or reinforced during the 14th century, doing little to discourage Christian incursions and fierce battles like the event of 1435 where much of the population of Mojácar was put to the sword.
Mojacar
Known throughout Spain as the "Village of Enchantment" with it's sister beach resort nearby, Mojacar Pueblo is undoubtedly the most romantic picturesque resort town in south-eastern Spain. Its white-washed houses and cobbled streets are sprinkled atop a hill overlooking pristine sandy beaches, washed by the warm Mediterranean. This unspoilt ancient Moorish fortress town has been a favourite with artists and writers for
many years. The village centre is honeycombed with narrow Kasbah-like alleyways, which hide many quaint surprises, like a Roman fountain
pumping fresh spring water and the unusual fortified church of
Santa Maria. Information on local and provincial fiestas
Known throughout Spain as the "Village of Enchantment" with it's sister beach resort nearby, Mojacar Pueblo is undoubtedly the most romantic picturesque resort town in south-eastern Spain. Its white-washed houses and cobbled streets are sprinkled atop a hill overlooking pristine sandy beaches, washed by the warm Mediterranean. This unspoilt ancient Moorish fortress town has been a favourite with artists and writers for
many years. The village centre is honeycombed with narrow Kasbah-like alleyways, which hide many quaint surprises, like a Roman fountain
pumping fresh spring water and the unusual fortified church of
Santa Maria. Information on local and provincial fiestas
