Altitude: 770 m
Population:703
(Source. INE 2006)
Natives: Lavijeros.
Integrated in the diocese of Ávila and the terms of Talavera during the Middle Ages and Modern Age, the region of Navamorcuende included the villages of Navamorcuende, Cardiel, Sartajada, Buenaventura, San Roman, El Almendral de la Cañada and Sotillo de las Palomas.
It was in 1276 when Avila gives the domain of Navamorcuende to the gentleman Ximénez Blasco, in gratitude for services he rendered. It acquired with this award "restocking powers and duties of allegiance." This concession is ratified by Fernando IV in 1309 in favor of Fernán Blázquez, son and successor of the first lord of Navamorcuende.
The villa belonged to the lordship of Davila and after to the Navamorcuende markisate by the grace of Felipe IV.
Toponymically, its name may come, according to tradition, from "the
Nava of Moor Cuende or the Celtic word "morkuvindi "(white
horse).
This villa is located at the foot of peak
Las Cruces and La Mesa, in the central region of the Sierra de San Vicente.
The best way to get here by car is taking the NV until km 116, take the
exit and to Cervera de los Montes and Navamorcuende. It is also accessible
by bus.
CHURCH OF ST. Mº DE LA NAVA (**): Building wrongly awarded to Juan de Herrera, although its construction and design belonged (in part) to Pedro de Tolosa, head of ecclesiastical building constructions in the area, as well as team member for Juan Bautista de Toledo in the works of the Monastery of El Escorial. It consists of a nave with five paraments polygonal apse, a choir and tower at the foot. The large size of the structure is reinforced by buttresses that end in Renaissance pinnacles crowned by balls. It was built in the sixteenth century.
HERMITAGE Nª Sª OF INCARNATION: (Known locally as ERMITA DEL GUADYERBAS). The year 1276, the place of N ª S ª Guadyerbas is already mentioned. It was used as a place of worship for the residents of Navamorcuende that populated Soto de las Palomas. In a 1692 lawsuit between Navamorcuende and Sotillo, the result was putting the shrine as an isolated structure ruled by both parties but within the jurisdiction of Navamorcuende. Construction of the XVI century. Elongated rectangular building of 3 distinct bodies. It is privately owned, but can be seen from the outside.
HERMITAGE OF THE HOLY CHRIST OF REMEDIOS (*): C XVII-XVIII.
In the street Eras Grandes there is a major shrine of a single nave with
a rectangular head in the dressing room and which is accessed by two doors
symmetrically arranged upon the altar. The only access is opened on the
north side of the structure.
(*) Monument included in the inventory of regional heritage
of the Province of Toledo.
(**) Declared a monument of cultural interest under Law 16/1985 of June
25 Spanish Historical Heritage.
FOUNTAIN (*): Located in the The Comandante Rodrigo square. From the Eighteenth century it was made up a orthogonal pylon on a base with large blocks. The main central sculpture, which opens into two pipes, comprises a column on which there is a flat area with decorative moldings and gallons and holds a heading of a conic trunk. It has an inscription from the era of Carlos IV.
PALACE OF THE MARQUISES (*): In the town's main street,
currently used as a bar, this palace is of Neoclassical style from the
C. XVIII. Rectangular building of two heights, built with stone masonry
walls. This building was occupied by the Marquis de Navamorcuende.
WATERMILL: On the road from the Royal Navamorcuende to
San Vicente there are different stalls in buildings, remains of 4 mills
with different levels of deterioration. Perhaps the best preserved are
the second (ramp) and third (Cube). The latter was owned by the monastery
of El Piélago.
(*) Monument included in the inventory of regional heritage
of the Province of Toledo.
The rural exodus of the last century marked this town. In the 50s it
came to exceed the figure of 2,100 inhabitants, while in the 80s it
suffered a drastic drop which placed the population below 800 inhabitants,
a figure that has not yet recovered.
January 5: Cavalcade of the Magicians (the Three Wise Men).
September 8: Our Lady of la Nava.
Weekends of Christmas: Representation of a living nativity
In virtually all the festivals celebrated in the region, visitors are
invited to eat and drink in order to enjoy even more the peculiarity
of these festivities.
Senda Viriato-GR 63:
Stages 19 and 1.
Talavera roads and
trails, Sierra de San Vicente and La Jara: R-17, R-18, R-19 and
R-20.
Phone Numbers
City Hall: 925 868 001
C. Doctor: 925 868 400
Pharmacy: 925 868 266
C.Internet: (all year) 17-20h
www.navamorcuende.org
Click picture to enlarge
