Grazalema

Grazalema
Municipality
Grazalema seen from the Sierra del Endrinal
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Grazalema Municipality within the province of Cádiz.
Coordinates: 36°46′N 5°22′W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Cádiz
Comarca	Sierra de Cádiz
Government
• Mayor	María José Lara Mateos (PSOE)
Area
• Total	122.41 km2 (47.26 sq mi)
Elevation	812 m (2,664 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	2,053
• Density	17/km2 (43/sq mi)
Demonym	Grazalemeños
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
Postal code	11610
Website	Official website

Grazalema is a village located in the northeastern part of the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra del Pinar mountain range (Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park), Grazalema had, as of 2009, a population of 2,205.

History

The Roman villa of Lacidulia or Lacidulerium, situated in an estate near to the present village, has been traditionally considered the ancestor of Grazalema.

During Muslim rule in the 8th century, these lands were populated by people of North African origin and from them, the area acquired the name of Raisa lami Suli. During this period, its economy was organised around forestry, agriculture, farming and textile manufacture.

With the Christian conquest in 1485, Zagrazalema, as it was called at the time, became part of the lands of the Rodrigo Ponce de León y Núñez. It became economically important as of the 17th century thanks to the drapery industry which produced the famous shawls of Grazalema. In the first years of the 19th century, during the War of Independence, Grazalema suffered attacks and sieges from the Napoleonic troops who partially destroyed the village.

See also

• Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park
• Grazalema blanket

External links

• Grazalema Guide Information about Grazalema
• Grazalema Andalusian statistical information system