Lucena: Guide

Lucena (pop. 40,000) is a town in southern Córdoba, 95 km north of Málaga, Spain|Málaga, 150 km east of Seville, Spain|Seville, 110 km west of Granada, Spain|Granada, and 100 km southwest of Jaén, Spain|Jaén. Lucena is situated on the Lucena, a minor tributary of the Genil.

Magnificently situated, is surrounded by strong walls and wide moats.

In early times it was inhabited almost exclusively by Jews who had arrived together with its founders; hence it was called "Jews' City", an epithet applied also to Granada and Tarragona. The Jews of Lucena, who carried on extensive trade and industries, were, according to an Arabic writer, richer than those of any other city. They enjoyed the same freedom as their coreligionists in the large Mohammedan cities. Their rabbi, who was elected by the entire community, was granted special privileges, and acted as judge in the civil and criminal cases arising in the community. The Jews lived peaceably until the Almoravides came into power. At the beginning of the eleventh century several important Jewish scholars lived in Lucena. Isaac Alfasi founded a large Talmudic academy in Lucena, and here also Isaac ibn Ghiyyat|Isaac ibn Ghayyat, Isaac ibn Albalia, and Joseph ibn Migash were prominent.

Lucena was taken from the Moors early in the 14th century; it was in the attempt to recapture it that King Boabdil of Granada was taken prisoner in 1483.
The parish church dates from the ending of the 15th century. Our Lady of Araceli is an image brought from Rome in the 16th century and is the patron of Lucena, canonically crowned in 1948. The chief industries are the manufacture of furniture, brandy, bronze lamps and pottery, especially the large earthenware jars (tinajas) used in the past throughout Spain for the storage of oil and wine, some of which hold more than 300 gallons. There is not manufacture of matches any more. There is considerable trade in agricultural produce. The horse fair in September was famous throughout Andalusia, but since the last decades of the 20th century there is only a funfair like in most towns in Andalousia.

This town gives its name too, to a city of the Philippines islands.

The Count of Lucena (Conde de Lucena) is S.E. Don Hugo O'Donnell, Duke of Tetuan, a Grandee of Spain.

References