Grazalema is a village located in the northeastern part of the province of

Cádiz Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...

, in the autonomous community of

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The t ...

, Spain. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra del Pinar mountain range (

Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park ( es, Parque natural de la Sierra de Grazalema) is a natural park in the northeastern part of the province of Cádiz in southern Spain. The park encompasses, within its , a complex of mountain ranges, known col ...

), Grazalema had, as of 2009, a population of 2,205.

History

The Roman villa of Lacidulia or Lacidulerium, situated in an estate near to the present village, has been traditionally considered the ancestor of Grazalema. During Muslim rule in the 8th century, these lands were populated by people of Arab origin and from them, the area acquired the name of Raisa lami Suli, "town of the Banu al-Salim" a tribe originated in the hijaz Arabia , place which passed to Ben-salama, "Son of Zulema and later Grand Zulema". During this period, its economy was organised around forestry, agriculture, farming and textile manufacture. With the Christian conquest in 1485, Zagrazalema, as it was called at the time, became part of the lands of the Rodrigo Ponce de León y Núñez. It became economically important as of the 17th century thanks to the drapery industry which produced the famous shawls of Grazalema. In the first years of the 19th century, during the

War of Independence This is a list of wars of independence (also called liberation wars). These wars may or may not have been successful in achieving a goal of independence. List See also * Lists of active separatist movements * List of civil wars * List o ...

, Grazalema suffered attacks and sieges from the Napoleonic troops who partially destroyed the village.

References

External links

Grazalema Guide
Information about Grazalema

Andalusian statistical information system {{authority control Municipalities of the Province of Cádiz