This is Horcajo de Santiago !!!

Posted in Spain

Oh yes another wonderful old little town of my dear Castilla La Mancha region; this is deep country and our road warrior trips at its best. There are so many towns that will take you a life time to see them all, and each is unique. I found me ,again, pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, Therefore, here is my take on this is Horcajo de Santiago !!! Hope you enjoy it as I.

The town of Horcajo de Santiago is located in the province of Cuenca, in the Comunidad autonoma de Castilla La Mancha and in the kingdom of Spain, It has a population of 3754 inhabitants (INE 2024), It is 49 km from Mota del Cuervo, 23 km from Uclés, 20 km from Tarancon, 58 km from Ocaña, 101 km from Cuenca, and 103 km from Madrid, We came here on our road warrior trails from Cuenca along the A40 autovia de la Meseta Sur highway dir Tarancon to the end at roundabout bear right onto the N III road this quickly becomes the N400 road just south of Tarancon bear left onto the CM200 road dir Ocaña go over the A40 and continue to the town entering by Paseo Angela Rosa de Silva continue to next roundabout and bear left onto Calle Santa Ana ,then bear left onto Calle del Santisimo continue bear right onto Calle S Ramon y Cajal and quick left onto Plaza del Cerrillo and to Calle la Iglesia and the church,

The imposing Church of the Immaculate Conception is the guiding light of the town of Horcajo de Santiago. It is the first thing you’ll see upon arriving in this town.  A church that opens its doors wide to all the residents of the region every December 7th to celebrate El Vitor, or the cheers, which venerates the image of the Immaculate Conception.  Every year, the image of the Virgin is paraded to celebrate El Vítor. In a sixteen-hour procession that begins at the church, the warring factions between those who want to remove the Virgin and those who don’t are represented with shouts of Vitor or cheers, The Church of the Immaculate Conception was begun in 1515 renovated that same century , and completed in the early 17C. Due to its construction date, it displays elements of two styles: Gothic and Renaissance. From the outside, it appears as a church of monumental proportions with marked buttresses between which stylized pointed open windows. The tower stands at the foot of the church and has a square floor plan, divided into four sections separated by imposts. The third and fourth sections are made entirely of ashlar, the last corresponding to the bell tower, which has two openings with semicircular arches. A spire from a later period crowns the tower, where the square clock is installed. The highly decorated main portal, Plateresque and known as the Puerta del Sol, opens at midday and consists of a semicircular arch between pairs of pilasters with images of Saints Peter and Paul, located within niches. Above a frieze decorated with grotesques rises the second level, highlighting the central niche with the Immaculate Conception, topped by a triangular pediment on a panel with coffered ceilings and a plain molding. The northern portal, also Plateresque, is simpler.

The interior of the Church of the Immaculate Conception has a Latin cross plan and a single nave, with a continuous entablature, consisting of three bays covered by star-shaped vaults resting on semicircular arches supported by Plateresque pilasters. At the foot of the altar, the choir rises on wooden beams supported by two stone columns. The transepts are occupied by two chapels that protrude from the plan and date from after the construction of the nave. A pointed triumphal arch separates it from the presbytery, which has a polygonal shape with three sides and is also covered by a star-shaped vault.

Other things to see here ,me think are the Casa de la Cadena ,a manor house has become an icon of the town. It owes its name to the chain on its façade, granted by King Felipe V as a symbol of distinction and gratitude for the hospitality received on September 17, 1706, the day he visited and stayed there. Also several hermitages such as the San Sebastián, Santa Ana, Notre Dame of the Rosary, Notre Dame of Carmen, and the Hospital for the Poor started in 1515, The Old Prison 16C, located next to the Plaza de España,

A bit of history I like turns around several names I just put a few such as starting with the Céspedes Family The firstborn, Rodrigo, succeeded his father in the Horcajo command, although it is not possible to specify exactly when this succession took place. What is certain is that during the visit of 1495, he was in Horcajo to receive the visitors. He founded an estate in Ciudad Real with royal authority in 1533, a title that his son Rodrigo would inherit. Pedro Vélez de Guevara Fifth commander of Horcajo, having taken possession on February 6, 1535. He was the son of the Count of Oñate, Iñigo Veléz de Guevara , and the Countess Juana Manrique. He was the first lord of Salinillas de Buradón, an estate founded for him by his father. For his great heroism in the defense of the city of Logroño against a French army, superior in means and forces, he was rewarded by Emperor Carlos I, who appointed him warden of Estella in 1522. He also held the title of captain of men-at-arms of the Castilian guards. Iñigo Veléz de Guevara, Sixth Commander of Horcajo, Second Lord of Salinillas, warden of Estella, captain of men-at-arms of the Castilian guards, gentleman of the household of Carlos I, governor of the Principality of Asturias, corregidor of the cities of Logroño and Calahorra, and the towns of Alfaro and La Guardia, governor and Captain General of the Kingdom of Navarre. Emperor Carlos I granted him the habit of the Order of Santiago in a dispatch signed in Brussels on March 10, 1531, and countersigned by Francisco de los Cobos, Major Commander of León. The nickname of Santiago comes from its past membership in the Order of Santiago, as evidenced by the numerous blazoned houses we find scattered throughout this town.

The town of Horcajo de Santiago on its heritage : https://www.horcajodesantiago.es/turismo/patrimonio/

The Castilla La Mancha region tourist office on Horcajo de Santiago : https://en.www.turismocastillalamancha.es/patrimonio/horcajo-de-santiago-84231/descripcion/

The Cultural site of the Castilla La Mancha region tourist office on the church : https://cultura.castillalamancha.es/patrimonio/catalogo-patrimonio-cultural/iglesia-de-la-inmaculada-concepcion-de-horcajo-de-santiago

There you go folks, another dandy in the wonderful region of Castilla La Mancha, in country Spain from its foundations. Enjoy Horcajo de Santiago, the quant town and nice monuments worth the detour, me think. Again, hope you enjoy this post on this is Horcajo de Santiago !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

Unknown's avatar

Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.