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Until March 23 Exhibition about the military Order of Calatrava in Caravaca de la Cruz
Founded in the 12th century, the Order of Calatrava contributed to the Christian Reconquista of Spain
The cloister of the former Convento de San José in Caravaca de la Cruz is holding an exhibition entitled “Calatrava: Primera orden religioso militar hispánica”, in which the exhibits include the uniforms, weapons and other pieces typical of the Order of Calatrava, the first religious Order in Spain with a military and warlike function, alongside a series of informative panels.
The Order was founded at the castle of Calatrava la Vieja in Castilla-La Mancha, which can still be seen today, in 1158 as a military branch of the Cistercians. At this time the castle was on the border of Christian and Moorish kingdoms and hence military orders such as Knights Templars were founded, but even the Templars failed to hold Calatrava and at this point Saint Raymond, the Abbot of the monastery, offered his services.
Papal approval was granted in 1187 by Pope Gregory VIII and members were obliged to obey rules of silence, abstinence, fasting and prayer as well as sleeping in their armour.
During the Christian Reconquista of southern Spain the Order fought in numerous battles, including the disaster of Alarcos, and accumulated great military strength and wealth with as many as 2,000 knights at one point in the 13th century. But after the expulsion of the Moors from Spain in 1492 the main reason for its existence was removed, and its influence gradually waned until the Second Spanish Republic suppressed the Spanish Orders in 1931.
The exhibition in Caravaca is organized by the Order of Guardian Knights of Calatrava la Vieja and is open to the public until March 23 during the following timetable:
Tuesday to Friday 17.30 to 20.00
Saturdays 11.00 to 13.30 and 17.30 to 20.00
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Caravaca Today.
Address
Calle De Las Monjas, 19, 30400 CARAVACA DE LA CRUZTel: 968 702424 / 968 701003
Oficina de Turismo de Caravaca de la Cruz
More information about the places of interest which can be visited in the municipality of Caravaca de la Cruz, along with what's on and local news can be found in the Caravaca Today.
Caravaca de la Cruz, in the north-west of the Region of Murcia, is one of only 5 Holy Cities in the Roman Catholic world, a centre of pilgrimage, along with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Santo Toribio de Liebana, and is home to the Cross of Caravaca, the Vera Cruz.
The status of Holy City was bestowed by Pope John Paul II in 1998, granting the City a Permanent Jubilee year every 7 years for perpetuity, the first one held in 2003 and the next in 2024.
The strategic and natural advantages of Caravaca de la Cruz have attracted the attention of settlers for more than 800,000 years, the Cueva Negra yielding remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, forbears of the Neanderthals and the municipality also houses important archaeological remains from the Argaric, Iberian and Roman cultures. many of these can be seen in the Municipal Archaeological Museum.
As a border town caught between the Catholic forces of Castille and the last remaining Moorish stronghold in Spain, Granada, Caravaca had a turbulent medieval history, but it was during this period that the legend of the Cross of Caravaca was born, bringing the religious orders which shaped the structure of Caravaca today, with its impressive hilltop castle and eclectic collection of churches and monasteries, religious tourism today being a backbone of the town´s economy.
Caravaca de la Cruz is a municipality with important natural resources, including extensive forests, part of which have protected status due to their wealth of flora and fauna, and due to the abundant water supplies is also a major area for canned fruit production, apricots in particular being an important crop.
Caravaca is renown for its important May Fiestas, held in honour of the Vera Cruz, which also incorporate the Moors and Christians celebrations and the Running of the Wine Horses.
Caravaca de la Cruz is also the home of Europe´s largest collection of ethnic instruments at Barranda, the Museo de Música Étnica Barranda and is the location of the Barranda festival de Cuadrillas, which celebrates the Region's ethnic music traditions.
The municipality is home to around 26,000 inhabitants and sahres boundaries with Moratalla, Cehegín, Lorca, Puebla de Don Fadrique in the province of Granada and Vélez-Blanco in the province of Almería.
Opening times:
Weekdays: 10.00 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Saturdays: 10.30 to 14.00 and 16.30 to 19.30
Sundays and public holidays: 10.30 to 14.00
Click for map, Caravaca de la Cruz Tourist Office
