Villanueva de la Jara


Villanueva de la Jara, popularly called La Jara, is a town and municipality in the Manchuela Conquense cormarca, this in turn is part of the La Manchuela comarca, province of Cuenca, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is known for the cultivation of portobellos which is the main economic activity of the locality and other edible fungis.

History

Villanueva de la Jara was founded by Alarcón’s inhabitants in the 13th or 14th century. It became independent in 1476 thanks to the Catholic Monarchs. The village participated actively in the Castilian War of the Communities. In the War of the Spanish Succession Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor looted and burned part of the village. In the Spanish Civil War the village had an aerodrome that was used by International Brigades.

Huellas de Teresa de Ávila

The town is part of the Tracks of Saint Teresa of Ávila, route of pilgrimage, tourism, culture and heritage which brings together the 17 cities where Saint Teresa of Ávila left her track in form of foundations the route does not have an established order or limited time as each pilgrim or visitor can do it.

Distance to other cities in Spain

- On one side is the Town Hall, 16th century Renaissance building, this is attributed to the Italian architect Andrea Roddi.
- The old Granary, built in 15th-16th centuries, next to Town Hall and today is a Medical Center.
- Stands the Torre del Reloj, vestige of the medieval headquarters building of the primitive Town Hall, of three floors.
- Also here is the Posada Massó, Renaissance style, which is one of the best examples of typical Castilian inn, that occupied for years both travelers and outsiders who came to work or to stay in the town. The building and its wooden deck are of the 16th century. Also has portals in brick and keystone marked with hollow rectangular frame.
- In the same square, in front of the Town Hall, is the Villa Enriqueta, a Neo-Mudéjar palatial house of 19th century. The building, which according to the inscription on the facade dates from 1899 and is named as Villa Enriqueta, was commissioned by Jesús Casanova for use as his private residence. And if at first it was a palace, then it became a military hospital during the Spanish Civil War and is now owned by several families whose homes are situated around a central courtyard. Factory made in brick of two colors placed mostly decoratively creating cruciform, floral motifs, etc., decorating the crenellated shot on the cover of lower volume of the building, the arches of the five balconies on the first floor and of the ten wickets paired in the second. Also of brick, the volume that tops the building, rectangular as a covered hipped tower, seems to be a kind of gallery or covered corridor whose walls are pierced by windows arches and under midpoint arches.
- In the square also is a 20th-century Guardia Civil Barracks House.