Cuenca Archives - usatoday24

The municipality of Cuenca is perfect to see the eclipse: the only problem is that it is an incomprehensible gibberish

July 16, 2026 by usatoday24

Could you draw the map of your town or city from memory? Well, now imagine that it breaks into two pieces, and that to get from one to the other without leaving your own municipality you have to cross half a mountain range. Come on, you have to stick a piece of cellophane on it as if it were a bridge and overlap parts. That is Cuenca every day: a city council that governs 911.6 square kilometers distributed like someone bursting a vase against the map of Castilla-La Mancha. A Rorschach test that falls apart in the hands of more than one property registrar. Was it so difficult to do things well? An empire made of grass, stone and mountains. It seems not. Only thirteen municipalities of the 8,119 that Spain has exceed the size of Cuenca capital. The largest is Cáceres; Within the region itself, Almodóvar del Campo and Albacete also win. But more than 80% of that territory is forest. It is, by far, the municipality with the most forest mass in Spain and is at the top in Europe, a title that many sources mistakenly attribute to Geneva. Not in vain does it pour water into two different seas: the Júcar, which crosses the territory up to five times, dies in the Mediterranean. The Cuervo and the Escabas, tributaries of the Tagus, flow into the Atlantic. The Spanish territorial organization, based on the assignments of 1833 by the “reformist” absolutist Javier de Burgos, is based on municipalities linked by proximity to the nearest province. The objective was clear: that no town would take more than a day’s work to reach its provincial capital. Cuenca thought otherwise. The forum that started it all. Guilt is medieval.In 1177 Alfonso VIII gave the newly conquered Cuenca its entire territory.. We talk about mountains, pastures, rivers, salt mines and mines. The limits, for another day. In the mid-18th century the city already controlled more than 208,000 bushels of pasture, a third of the entire mountain range. Neighboring towns, starting with Huélamo, had been trying to find land for generations: lawsuits with Beamud in 1750, boundary disputes with Valdemeca, illegal crops in the Cuenca pastures of Valduerguinas and El Codorno to prevent the capital’s flocks from grazing there. And so, crumb by crumb, in 1804 Huélamo and Tragacete fought over the same usurpations as their grandparents. The historian José María Sánchez Benito, who has dedicated a good part of his work to the territorial articulation of the Land of Cuenca in the Late Middle Ages,documented how the Cuenca council itself actively decided which villages retained population status and which were declared depopulated. And this implies direct fiscal and territorial consequences: the village without sufficient population lost its territory to the neighboring town with more weight. The current map, according to their work, is a scar from centuries of small administrative wars. The fight continues. That habit of discussing every meter has not died. Cuenca and Albarracín (Teruel) have been litigating since the end of the 19th century over El Entredicho, a 2,000-hectare mountain at the very source of the Tagus River. We count it in 2024: The National Geographic Institute ruled in favor of Albarracín, the Ministry of Territorial Policy ratified the decision, and Cuenca appealed to the National Court, where the case remains open. Elena Camacho, head of the Territorial Delimitations service at the National Geographic Institute, explains the dilemma of the mess: when the first official boundaries were drawn at the end of the 19th century, “they went to the priest, who was generally the one who knew how to write, and they asked him to draw a map of what his town was like.” That sketch, made without instruments or GPS, is the legal basis that is still being discussed today by civil engineers, lawyers and two entire autonomous communities. 180, 130 or 60 kilometers? The figures vary depending on who calculates them: some speak of 180 kilometers in a straight line between the extreme north and the south, and almost 300 by road; others, more conservative, lower it to just over 60. The real record for municipal remoteness in Spain is held by Almería, whose term includes the island of Alborán, 92 kilometers from the coast. And although the exact figure for Cuenca is disputed, what no one disputes is that it takes more than half a day by car to cross the municipality from end to end without leaving it. What’s more, we can even consider “islands” in its strict sense. Among tiny towns, with their own town hall, completely surrounded by the municipality of Cuenca, stands outVega del Codorno, which only has a border with Cuenca. In almost 33 km² it has just over 140 inhabitants. HE split from Tragacete less than a century ago. Before they were Vega del Codorno de Abajo and de Arriba. Tragacete, in turn, also borders only Cuenca. Poyatos would limit the same if it were not for a strip attached to it, Huerta de Marojales, which belongs to Cañizares—a municipality with which it does not even border. And Buenache de la Sierra and Palomera share an enclave without being the same town. Crazy. An eclipse to make peace. What is clear is that Spanish geography will do its thing again, in a good way, on August 12, 2026. The city of Cuenca will be one of the few Spanish provincial capitals within the band of totality of the first visible total solar eclipse on the peninsula. In more than a century. And it will look luxurious. The total phase will arrive at 20:32, last between 54 and 56 seconds, with the Sun just 6 degrees above the horizon to the west-northwest, and will set shortly after, at 21:09. We will have to look for a clear viewpoint on that side – the Serranía has plenty; The mythical ones are the Ventano del Diablo, near Villalba de la Sierra, and Castillo de Cañete, less crowded, higher, better for many. Any … Read more

2,000 years ago they wanted to build a temple to the goddess Minerva in Cuenca. They ended up doing it in the most unlikely place

June 29, 2026 by usatoday24

In a quarry one expects to basically find workers, machinery and stacked blocks. It is like this today and it was probably like this (with obvious differences) in times of the Roman Empire, when the stonemasons of Hispania dug in the mountains and caves of the peninsula in search of deposits. In a quarry exploited between the 1st and 4th centuries AD in Cuenca, archaeologists have however found Anything else: a temple of 2,000 years dedicated to Minerva. From a simple quarry to a temple. What has happened? that archaeologists have found a fascinating find in Carrascosa del Campo, in the municipality of Campos del Paraíso (Cuenca): a temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva. The discovery is interesting because of the value of the carving itself, but what makes it really special is its context. The aedicula It was not erected in the center of a city, the courtyard of a wealthy villa or on the walls of a sanctuary. The votive piece was carved into the rock of a quarry. Its creators carved it in front of the site, a place where it was surely easier to meet stonemasons than priests. What is the sanctuary like? The temple is located in a place known as Peña de la Saceda and experts estimate that it was carved between mid-2nd century and early 3rd century AD The complex is made up of pilasters, capitals, a triangular pediment and a carved entablature, which imitates a small sanctuary. Although the representation of the goddess Minerva has been greatly deteriorated over the centuries, experts have identified her traditional attributes (helmet, spear and peplum) and an owl, an icon used as a symbol of the goddess. Do we know anything else? “There is barely a glimpse of the goddess Minerva. What can be clearly seen is an owl, which is the totemic bird that represents Minera,” explains in the SER Juan Carlos Guisado di Monti, one of the archaeologists who signed the article from the magazine Mantva in which the discovery was revealed. The relief is accompanied by a brief inscription at the bottom of the aedicula, in which can be read: “Minervae dominae Ploti vs cun svo comitato”, that is to say: “To Minerva Domina, (dedicated) Plotius Vigor with his retinue.” And where did they find it? That’s the key. The temple, 0.7 m wide by 0.5 m high, was conceived as “a small facade carved directly into one of the stone fronts of the quarry.” Its authors carved the complex out of sandstone rock, and they did so in the quarry itself, not in a remote space. This is not a minor detail, since it tells us about a connection between the profane and the sacred, how a quarry, an a priori functional space focused on work, could also acquire a sacred meaning with a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, arts, strategy and craftsmanship. Is it something unique? “There are other temples dedicated to gods in other quarries, but in Spain until now none dedicated to Minerva had been discovered. This is the most important and surprising discovery, because it suggests that the quarry workers made their ‘votes’ to the goddess, for the work they were doing,” details in elDiario Dionisio Urbina, who has directed the excavations at the Roman site for more than a decade. Equally relevant is the brief inscription located at the bottom of the temple and which includes the formula “cum suo comitato”which suggests to archaeologists that the offering was not individual, but rather came from a group. What were the quarries? The temple was located just 15 km from Segóbrigaan important deposit that includes a theater inaugurated in the time of Emperor Vespasian, in the 1st century AD. As the authors of the study recall, the area was also known for the mines of lapis specularisa selenite gypsum stone highly appreciated in Rome for the manufacture of windows and whose exploitation generated wealth in the region. Now the temple discovered in Carrascosa del Campo reveals something else to us: the veneration of Minerva. “The rock sanctuary of Minerva constitutes a find of special value. The old quarry, transformed into a place of devotion, shows how the Roman religion was not only expressed in the large urban or peri-urban sanctuaries, but also in rural and productive enclaves where the community, the workers or their promoters sought protection and left both their veneration of the goddess and the memory of their vow inscribed in the rock,” they conclude the researchers. The discovery, yes, has come accompanied by some controversy. After the news circulated in recent days in general media, the director of the Cerro de la Muela excavation recalled that the work is still “in progress” and regretted what he considers an “unauthorized dissemination” of the results. Images | Government of Castilla-La Mancha and Wikipedia In Xataka | In 1778 Mozart attempted to teach composition to a French noblewoman. It didn’t go well at all, but thanks to her we now have unpublished works

Cuenca has been watching its “Palace of Versailles” fall apart for decades. There are those who have proposed to change it

October 19, 2025 by usatoday24

He Gosálvez Palacea mansion built at the beginning of the last century in Casas de Benítez (Cuenca), near the Júcar River, is not going through its best moment. In its day it was the luxurious residence of the industrialist Enrique Gonsálvez and his extended family, but the building has been suffering plunder and abandonment for decades to the despair of the neighbors. Or at least it has been until now. In March the news broke that the mansion was changing hands to be reborn as accommodation and event venue. The question is whether the known as “Versailles of Cuenca” Will he be reborn or will he only write one more chapter in the sad chronicle that he has dragged on for decades. An unknown gem. They know him as “the Versailles of Cuenca” either “from La Mancha” and (although without reaching the size or splendor of the French building) the truth is that the Gosálvez Palace It is a gem worthy of admiration. In fact, this old palatial residence built around 1900 in the province of Cuenca by order of the businessman Enrique Gosálvez is cataloged as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), attracts the interest of hundreds of visitors and even has its own ‘admirers’ associationa group that has been calling for some time to stop the deterioration that the property has suffered for decades. Is it that important? arrives with take a look to the Catalog of Cultural Heritage of the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha to understand that the palace is a unique piece. Both from a historical and architectural point of view. The construction is of French inspiration, “a little Versailles” very much in line with the palaces that were built in the north of Spain at the beginning of the 20th century. There, in its nearly 20 rooms, the industrialist Enrique Gosálvez once lived with his very extensive progeny between luxuries, elegant furniture and sumptuous gardens. Beyond the architectural interest of the palace, the complex includes additional pieces, such as towers, a neo-Gothic style chapel, a gazebo… and an extensive garden that, remembers the Department of Cultureis a reason in itself to visit the farm. “Some species are unique in the Community of Castilla-La Mancha,” he highlights. As if that were not enough, among its decoration the palace included a fountain popularly known as “The Tsarina”a gift (it is said) that the wife of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II gave to Enrique Gosálvez. A gem in low hours. Neither its splendor nor its rich history prevented the palace from ending up in the worst possible way: ruined after the death of Gosálvez. Although it is protected as a BIC, the construction has clearly deteriorated until it fell into disrepair. “red list” of Hispania Nostra, a list that includes Spanish heritage “at risk of disappearance.” Over there is warned that the building is the victim of decades of “disastrous neglect” and “mutilations” that have caused the structure to degrade and suffer looting. A ray of hope. The future of the property seemed to change a few months ago, when he became interested in it a swiss couple who set out to recover it with a clear purpose: to dedicate it to accommodation, social events and visits. at least like this He published it in March. elDiario.es, which reported that the couple had taken ownership of the venue. They themselves had taken care of announce it through Instagram, from an account in which he accumulates 24,400 followers. The news of the change of owners was echoed other media premises and even the Friends of the Gosálvez Palace and its Surroundings Association through your Facebook account. The issue was actually discussed at an extraordinary assembly in August. “The good news of the change of owners and their interest in bringing the palace and its surroundings back to life have been paralleled by a renewed interest from many heritage lovers to be part of the association,” celebrated. Perfect, right? Not at all. On Monday The Confidential public a chronicle that updates the situation of the palace and shows that its recovery is probably not going to progress as quickly as the Swiss couple wanted. The land has been cleaned and cleared, but when the new owners wanted to touch the construction, Heritage put the brakes on them. At least that’s what it says another post published on the same Instagram account at the beginning of October. “We have been informed that neither basic maintenance work, nor provisional protection of the building, nor removal of debris are authorized.” The authors of the post remember that the mansion is a BIC, a figure that “in theory” seeks to protect the heritage, but in his opinion “in many cases” achieves the “opposite” effect. “The immense bureaucratic and administrative regulation to obtain permits means that no one dares to restore them since costs multiply and work times are prolonged,” abound. “This makes any investment unfeasible, both by individuals and public administrations. This is the reason why we find countless BIC buildings in ruins. The intention of wanting to save buildings does not matter. Only respect for rules that are impossible to comply with.” “They were a little wrong”. The Confidential has interviewed also to the mayor of Casas de Benítez, the municipal area in which the mansion stands. In his opinion, the couple has been optimistic. “They were a little wrong about what this process entails,” he reflects. “They believed that everything could be managed with the City Council and I accompanied them to Cuenca so that they could see that each step must be approved by Heritage. They discovered that it was going to be longer and more expensive than expected. They planned to make it profitable in three months with garden parties.” Pedro Pablo Correas, from the Association of Friends of the Palace, clarify also that “they have only been asked to meet certain minimums”, such as “that there be an architect in charge of the project.” “This couple came from … Read more

Garlic is mired in a deep crisis in Spain. And that is bad news for a particular place: Cuenca

June 8, 2025 by usatoday24

Spain occupies An important place In the world macker of garlic, but that does not mean that the farmers of Castilla-La Mancha or Andalusia who are dedicated to growing it are easy. The garlic It crosses turbulence. The sector warns of the difficulties that are to combat pests, the effects of drought, the “excessive bureaucracy” or the lack of generational relief, among other stalking challenges. A complicated panorama that is seen with special attention from the province of Cuenca, where the Purple Garlic from Las Pedroñeras. After all, garlic is much more than a vegetable that fluctuates in the market: The sector claims which is a crop that helps to “pour” the emptied Spain. “In crisis”. He newly named President of the National Garlic Bureau, José Carlos Patiño, is clear: they do not run good times for his business. In An interview With eldiario.es the agriculture Manchego, the new visible face of the Aheros, warned that the sector “is suffering a” aggravated crisis, among other factors, by the water scarcitythe reduction of hectares of crop, the lack of generational relief and a bureaucracy that they consider “excessive.” It is nothing new. His predecessor, Julio Bacete I already used The same word to describe the situation that farmers dedicated to garlic culture face: “crisis.” A year ago, during A talk with Xatakahe admitted that the sector was going through “complicated moments”, a trend that is visible mainly in the loss of hectares dedicated to plantations. Why’s that? For a sum of factors. Although not all weigh the same. When explaining the situation, farmers usually point out above all loss of resources To fight pests. They ensure that their arsenal has been trimmed by regulations, which subtracts tools to protect crops … and their investments. “It’s not about talking badly about the 2030 Agenda or the Green Pact, but the reduction we carry in phytosanitary is affecting us a lot. There are diseases, pests, fungi that we cannot control,” warns Patiño. “We have a very large decrease. There is a lack of performance, simply in the seed itself. In nascence there are plots that have a decrease of 30% damage. In the end, that is kilos of garlic,” Comment the representative of the sector. He is not the only one who thinks like that. The president of the National Association of Garlic Producers and Marketers (ANPCA), Fernando Rubio, He shared recently A similar message with The confidential: “Pests begin to be resistant because we have very little variety of active matter that we can use.” Pest question … And something else. Although the shortage of resources to treat pests and fungi is usually one of the most cited handicaps by farmers is not the only one that explains the “crisis” that faces garlic. The guild indicates other serious ones, both structural and short -term: water shortage, specialized professionals and generational relief, “Excess bureaucracy”loss of hectares, the cost of land lease, low visibility in the domestic market or even the effect of imports and The tariffs by Donald Trump. The sector has been dealing with China’s competition for some time, Great world exporter of garlic and that stands out especially for its prices. With that backdrop, In the guild worries now what The tariff war and the imposition of levies to Chinese trade in the US ends up leading Asian farmers to redirect their merchandise towards other destinations, complicating exports to Spain. It is not the only conjunctural challenge with which the sector has dealt with, which in recent years has had to see them with The increase of The energy either Fertilizers. Hectares. The transformation of the sector can also be measured in figures. For example, that of the cultivated area. The data does not always coincide, but show a clear loss of soil: The report presented a year ago by the National Garlic Table to the Mixed Fruit and Vegetable Committee notes that it has passed from 29,826 hectares in 2021 to a provision of 21,000. Other sources They point out that it has dropped from 24,900 h in 2023 to something less than 23,000 In the 2024 season. The descent would be even more accent in Some regions. “Much investment”. “Putting one hectare of garlic carries a lot warns Patiño at eldiario.es. Less land does not always have less crops. Some data They point to the high weight of garlic Springvariety that stands out for its rhythm of production and performance, and a loss of land of purple garlic. As for prices, the manager wait Good values, above last year. The ministry indicates that the 100 kg of dry garlic are in 125 euros. Garlic (and something else). Not everyone lives the same turbulence that the vegetable is going through. After all, as He noticed recently Rubio, garlic plays a key role as a job generator in part of emptied Spain. “The cultivation is going to be lost to many villages of rural Spain, the reason for about 60 wages per hectare,” duck The President of ANPCA. In that context, there is a variety of culture to which Pay attention The sector: purple garlic. In a basin place … “In purple garlic it is a very serious problem. It is in danger and production can be left,” Patiño points out to The confidential. The reason is simple: to the rest of the challenges that the Ajero collective is going through, the purple variety adds the lack of visibility in the stores. Although the purple garlic of Las Pedroñeras It has one Protected Geographic Indicationthe sector regrets its lack of dissemination in a market in which the client values the cost. Looking at the Canary Islands banana. “It does not happen with the banana, which differs much from the banana. Here the qualities are not compared to, but there is no culture to seek the garlic of the Pedroñeras in the super” s, Rubio reflects. To this lack of recognition is added the performance of the variety, less than that … Read more

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