Caravaca Introduction
Caravaca de la Cruz is the main town in the northwest of the region of Murcia. It extends over 860km² and is situated 625m above sea level. The population is about 24000.
The main natural features of the area are El Nevazo (Peña del Gato at 862m and the Centro Trompetero at 934m), Peña Rubia which reaches 1306m, Siete Peñones (1342m), Sierra del Gavilán (Pinar Negro at 1447m), Sierra de Mojantes, Sierra de la Zarza, Las Tosquillas and Los Ojos, the last two being water sources.
The first traces of human population from the Palaeolithic Era when flint scrapers were found in the caves of La Represa and El Remojón. In the cave of Los Alcores, “polished stone” and pottery was discovered with the burials.
From that time onwards, several other cultures and people have settled down in the area, which is attested by several Argáric, Iberian and Roman sites. From the Argáric period there are the remains of the town La Placica close to La Encarnación. From the 6th century the Iberians left their imprint at Villaricos, but without doubt the most important is the Santuario de La Encarnación, which unearthed images of horses, votive offerings, warriors and female figures.
With the victory of Rome over Carthage in the Second Punic War, the Romanization of the Iberian Peninsula started, and that came to Caravaca, particularly the thermal baths at El Empalme, vestiges at La Encarnación and the bridge El Piscalejo.
However, Caravaca did not have a town centre until the time of Muslim mandate in the Peninsula, around the 11th century. The town was first governed by the Orden del Temple and subsequently by that of the Orden de Santiago.
The Middle Ages saw the Reconquest, the signing of the Treaty of Alcaraz by Fernando III in 1432, and Muslims being allowed to keep their properties, laws, customs and religion in return for payment of rents. This situation remained until the Mudéjar rebellion of 1264 and they lost all the privileges.
Caravaca de la Cruz was granted to the Orden del Temple in 1266 up to 1312, the year in which the Order was dissolved. After successive changes, the town was given to the Orden de Santiago in 1344.
The conquest by the Kingdom of Granada in the 16th century brought about significant economic, social and demographic prosperity to Caravaca.
It was during the 18th century when the town reached its climax in political and economic development due to the export of cereals and hemp to a great extent. At the beginning of the 19th century, the economy was centred around pinewood, esparto grass and the production of cereals, flax, oil, legumes, fruit and vegetables, hemp, breeding sheep and goats, and the manufacture of canvas, cloth, soap and aguardiente spirit.
The Vera Cruz de Caravaca, according to the tradition, appeared miraculously on 3rd May 1232 and has been venerated ever since. In 1231, the Moorish king Ceyt-Abuceyt, who governed the city, wanted to know the occupation and condition of the Christian prisoners who were held in the castle. Ginés Pérez Chirinos, made the king aware that he was a priest of Christ and he officiated in celebrating the Santa Misa. Such was the heat that he put into his words, that the king showed lively interest and ordered that Mass be performed in his presence, but Chirinos said that it was not possible since he needed a series of ornaments. In the face of this Ceyt-Abuceyt, pushed by his curiosity, ordered everything that was necessary in order to celebrate the Mass. So came the day in which Chirinos, having everything he required, prepared to say Mass before the Moorish king and many of his courtiers. As the priest approached the altar and lifted his eyes he discovered that there was no Cross, and he was confused. Abuceyt upon seeing him in that state asked what had perturbed him, to which Chirinos responded "Lack of the Cross." Upon saying this, the king saw a great splendour, like two angels descended having the Cross of four arms in their hands. Chirinos lifts the eyes and he was full of joy and received it from the hands of the angels, the day 3rd May 1231.
The Moorish king Ceyt-Abuceyt and many of his subjects were converted to Christianity in the face of this miracle, receiving baptism from the hands of the same Chirinos. The said cross is a “Lignum Crucis”, i.e a fragment of the wood on which Christ was crucified. It is held in a reliquary that has the form of a double-armed cross. It is important not to confuse the outer reliquary with the relic inside.
In 1998 the Vatican granted the town the right to celebrate “in perpetuum” Jubilee every seven years. The first was celebrated in 2003. Therefore, Caravaca de la Cruz was turned into one of the five towns in the Christian world that was granted this privilege in addition to Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liébana.
