Lucena Cordoba andalucia spain

LUCENA


I. Introduction
II. History
III. General Information
A. Our Lady Of Araceli
B. Major Industries in Lucena
C. Cities Or Places Where The Town Was Named After
1. Lucena City, Philippines
2. Lucena, Paraíba (Brazil)
3. “Presidente Lucena” in Southern Brazil
D. Population and Geography
E. Other Interesting Information
IV. Landmarks
A. Iglesia De San Mateo De Lucena
B. Palacio De Los Condes De Hust
C. Iglesia Y Hospital De San Juan De Dios
D. Santuario De Nuestra Señora De Araceli
E. Castillo Del Moral
V. Events

A. Semana Santa


I. INTRODUCTION


Located approximately seventy kilometers from the city of Cordoba, the town of Lucena is widely known for its furniture factories and also for their shops. The town also prides itself for having the furniture factories that owns the biggest chair in the world which in fact measures six meters high. Furthermore, Lucena is an excellent location for those who would like to visit all the major cities of Andalusia while they are on their vacation.


Notwithstanding that the town of Lucena seems to be made up of furniture shops and factories, Lucena is also the home of many well-ornamented and historical churches. San Agustin, a 17th century convent founded by the Madres Agustinas, is well-known for its oval layout and dome is one of the most important churches in the town of Lucena.


II. HISTORY


The town of Lucena was once called “Jews’ City” which is also a label apparently provided to Granada and Tarragona due to the fact that Lucena was first inhabited almost exclusively by Jews who arrived along with its founders. According to the 11th century Moslem geographer, Mohamed al-Edrisi, the Jews of Lucena who carried on substantial trade and industries are in fact wealthier than those of any other city. They experience the same freedom as their coreligionists in the large Muslim cities. Special privileges were granted to the entire community’s elected rabbi, and one of them is serving as judge in the criminal and civil cases occurring in the community. The Jews lived peacefully until the Almoravides came into power.


A couple of influential Jewish scholars lived in the town of Lucena during the beginning of the 11th century. Isaac Ibn Albalia, and Joseph Ibn Migash were one of the important inhabitants, along with Isaac Alfasi who founded a large Talmudic Lucena.


During the early 14th century, the town of Lucena was taken from the Moors by the Spaniards. King Boabdil of Granada’s attempt to recapture the said town caused him to be taken as a prisoner during the year 1483.


IIII. GENERAL INFORMATION


A. Our Lady Of Araceli


The parish church dates back during the late 15th century. In the 16th century, Our Lady of Araceli, the patron of Lucena was an image brought from Rome, and was canonically crowned during the year 1948. B. Major Industries In Lucena


Furniture manufacturers, industrial refrigerators, wine, bronze lamps and pottery particularly those big earthenware jars (known a tinajas) which are being utilized all over Spain in the past, for the storage of oil and wine, a few of which contains over 300 gallons are the main industries of the town of Lucena. Additionally, Lucena was also the place where matches were used to be manufactured.


C. Cities Or Places Where The Town Was Named After


1. Lucena City In The Philippines


The City of Lucena or “Lungsod Ng Lucena” in Tagalog (Filipino) is a medium sized highly urbanized first class city in the Quezon province, Philippines. It is also the capital of Quezon and is also one of the 25 most competitive cities of the Phiippines.


The city was named after Lucena, Andalusia where the late Franciscan pioneer parish priest, Reverend Mariano Granja, was known to have served earlier. Several individuals even claim that he was from this town. However, according to Eusebio Gomez Platero’s remarkable work, the late Reverend Granja was born in Paredes de Nava, diocese of Palencia, distant from Andalusia. Eusebio Gomez Platero is also a franciscan and records additionally demonstrate that Reverend Granja had no prior post as the priest of Lucena, Andalusia.


2. Lucena, Paraíba (Brazil)


Lucena, Brazil is a town and municipality in the state of Paraíba, located in the Northeast Region of the country of Bazil.


3. “Presidente Lucena” in Southern Brazil


This particular name was given by Henrique Pereira de Lucena.He was born in Recife, which is the capital of the state of Pernambuco. Later, he nominated “Barão De Lucena” also known as Baron of Lucena who governed the provinces Bahia, Pernambuco and Rio Grande de Sul at the Century XIX throughout the duration of Brazilian Empire.


D. Population and Geography


The town of Lucena has more or less 40,000 inhabitants and it is located 60 kilometers to the Northeast from Lucena. 85 kilometers is the distance towards the well-known resort city Malaga, and 100 kilometers towards Granada and Jaen, and 140 kilometers towards Seville.


It is situated on the Lucena River, within the convergence of significant highways in Andalusia’s geographical center.


Finally, more than 90% of Lucena’s inhabitants occupies the northeastern part of the city.


E. OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION


The natives that live in the city of Lucena are referred to as “Lucentinos”.


The city was formerly known as “Eloissana” derived from the Hebrew term “Eli Hosanna” which means “God May Save Us”. Muslims called it as “Al-Yussana”.


IV. Landmarks


Here are some of the many landmarks found in the city of Lucena, Córdoba: A. Church Of San Mateo


The Church of San Mateo or otherwise referred to as Iglesia De San Mateo De Lucena is known to the the biggest and exceptionally preserved temple which were built in the Countryside Córdoba during the early 16th century. This is also known to be Lucena’s main church, and a Gothic-Renaissance work coming from the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. The Renaissance altarpiece was created by Juan Bautista Vazquez the Elder and Jeronimo Hernandez. The most essential part of the church is the Capilla de Sagrario, ranking with the Sagrario De La Asuncion in Priego as one of the high points of Andalusian baroque. It was built within the years 1740 and 1772 and presenting a remarkable entrance of encrusted marble. It has a central shine and magnificently painted work when laid out in an octagon.


B. Palacio De Los Condes De Hust


Located in the BlossomA stunning 17th century palace where the tourist must need to pay attention to their exquisite cover of the three bodies and their beautiful door. At present, it is now the city’s municipal library. C. Iglesia Y Hospital De San Juan De Dios


The hospital and church of San Juan De Dios in the village of Priego de Córdoba during the 17th century. Prides itself for possessing a stunning marble entrance and typically Baroque altarpiece and plasterwork


Situated in the historic center of the town, its present day appearance is the result of several reforms it went through for the duration of its existence. Modifications were done to the windows and arches during the 18th century, and the addition of the façade (unfinished) attributed to Juan De Dios Santaelia.


During the year 1768, Francisco José Guerrero created the main altarpiece and is presided by the Virgen De Las Mercedes. Rococo was its overall style.


D. Santuario De Nuestra Señora De Araceli


The Church of Nuestra Señora De Araceli was constructed during the 16th and is considered as one of the oldest church in the region. The church is indeed remarkable due to its distinctive floor plan. The church is made up of a rectangular floor plan and a vault set on pedentives with one nave and the main chapel with a square floor plan.


The façade, which shows evidence of Classicist intervention it the church’s most remarkable feature. The current tower was constructed during the late 18th century and contains new set of bells.


The church of Nuestra Señora De Araceli is also considered to be one of the best examples of Baroque art in the province.


E. Castillo Del Moral


Situated in the town’s center, Castillo Del Moral used to be a medieval fortress. With its square floor plan and towers on the corners out of which the so-called Damas tower is preserved.


Castillo Del Moral is also known to be the former prisoner of Boabdil. Currently, the Tourism office is now located at the Castillo Del Moral.


These are merely a few of the great monuments and/or landmarks that the town of Lucena can offer. Once you’re there, there are lots of places you can explore further, and the landmarks listed here just a tiny part of your trip compared to what you have discovered on your own.


V. EVENTS


A. Semana Santa


Easter, otherwise known as Semana Santa is known to be the most significant occasion celebrated annually in the town of Lucena, as well as most parts of Spain. However, Lucena’s Semana Santa is popular due to its strange and unique way of porting or carrying on the processions, or also referred to as “pasos”. This is the reason as to why the town of Lucena’s Semana Santa has been announced as a Special Tourist Interest.


All of these processions are composed of at least one particular sculpture, which is frequently hundreds of years old. They are being shoulder-carried with all porters uncovered and at the same level. The way by which processions are being executed in the town of Lucena is known as “Santeria” ad it is in fact a special trait to the city. Tourist can best appreciate Santeria during Easter Thursday, (Jueves Santo) where 9 “pasos” take the streets.


The highlights of Lucena’s Semana Santa also include the Cristo De La Columna, by the widely-renowned sculptor Pedro Roldán which was created in the year 1675, and finally, brought from the Spanish Americas during the early 17th century, is the outstanding Cristo De La Sangre.