Torvizcón

Torvizcón is situated on the western side of the Rambla Torvizcón on the slope of the Cerro del Cercado, located to the left of the Cerro Salchicha.

One of its many traditions is the Cría del cerdo de San Antón (‘the breeding of Saint Anthony’s pig’), in which a pig with a red ribbon tied around its neck is let loose around the town. The locals have to feed the pig whilst it is roaming, until they gather in the town square and draw lots for the pig at the end of the celebrations.

According to the British writer and Hispanist Gerald Brenan, the town may be named after the local shrub ‘torvisco’, which was traditionally used to cure the evil eye. Pedro Antonio de Alarcón nicknamed the town ‘the favourite place of the sun’, and it was once the capital of the Sierra de la Contraviesa, as the mountain range extends over the whole municipality. Torvizcón’s town centre is one of the best preserved in the region.

Some historians believe there was already a settlement during the Roman Empire which was called Turidianum. During the Arab domination Torvizcón enjoyed a period of prosperity thanks to its booming agricultural industry, helped by the excellent irrigation systems and wells built by the Moors. By this time the town also produced high-quality silks and grew vines and even exported raisins.

With the Reconquista and the subsequent uprising and expulsion of the Moors the town suffered from a major drop in its population. It recovered gradually, and in the 17^th century it was officially recognised as a town. In the 19^th century a number of farmhouses grouped together to form a rural tourism initiative.

In addition to the specialities of the area (fennel stews, Migas, Fritadilla de conejo, Choto al colorín), Torvizcón is famous for its sweets made of dried figs, such as its delicious fig bread.