Puente Genil Cordoba andalucia spain

PUENTE GENIL

I. Introduction
II. History
III. General Information
A. Geography And Location
B. Other Points Of Interest
IV. Tourist Attractions
A. Castillo Anzur
B. Liceo Mercantil
C. Teatro Circo
D. Miragenil Bridge
V. Celebrated Occasions


I. INTRODUCTION


The town of Puente Genil is situated in the south eastern part of the province of Córdoba, on the border of the Seville province. The towns interesting landmarks are located within its boundaries, such as Cordobilla Reservoir Beauty Spot and Tiscar Lagoon which is additionally known as a Nature Reserve. Both of these magnificent areas are part of southern Córdoba’s wet zones, which are vitally essential especially with regards to the birdlife which congregates among them.


Puente Genil was a result of the union of two villages which were previously separated by the Miragenil river during the year 1834. Miragenil river once belonged to Seville and La Puente de Don Gonzalo. As a result, Puente Genil is now inevitably connected towards the river, to which it owes its very existence. The town of Puente Genil is composed of traditional, carefully preserved dwellings which extends to as far as the modern areas, which are located in higher parts of the town. Additionally, majority of the town is constructed on the river banks. During Holy Week, the townspeople as well as the Easter fraternities and associations march all over the town of Puente Genil carrying out their marvelous and unusual version of Holy Week.


II. HISTORY


The town of Puente Genil originated through the construction of the bridge all over the river Genil, which was a project and design of Hernan Ruiz and financed by the Lord of Aguilar, Don Gonzalo Yañez Dovinal.


This particular town which appeared for commercial and strategic purposes and also to protect and monitor an important pass running from the countryside towards the south into the Moslem-occupied territory, unfortunately experienced all kinds of difficulties which are actually associated with an area close to the border.


The town of Puente Genil fell into the hands of Gonzalo Fernandez De Cordoba during the late 16th century and as per the details provided in his will during in the year 1498, despite being practically abandoned, Don Alfonso De Aguilar was able to repopulate it, thus becoming known as “Don Gonzalo’s Bridge”


The town’s stone bridge’s two arches was finally finished during the year 1583. Unfortunately, the bridge suffered grave damages the following year because of the river flooding which destructed most of the Barrio Bajo district. Those incessant floods lead to such devastation that it was imperative to execute major rebuilding during the year 1874 by a French architect named, Lemonier.


III. General Information


A. Geography And Population


As previously mentioned, the town of Puente Genil is located in the south-east corner of the Córdoba province, in Andalusia’s geographical center, bordering the Seville and Malaga provinces, and from the Genil river, which its name was derived from. The town of Puente Genil extends from the side of a hill and a plain, nearly measuring 171.05 meters. Puente Genil has an altitude of 216 meters above sea level and the town’s distance from its capital location measures up to 68 kilometers.


At present, the town’s population is approximately 30,033; 13,922 of it are male and 14,217 are female.


B. Other Points Of Interest


The townspeople of Puente Genil are called “Pontanenses”


The city of Córdoba is Puente Genil’s province


The town’s zip code starts with the three numbers 145


There are several individuals who are in fact illustrious in their designated field who are citizens of Puente Genil, Córdoba, and some of them are Manuel Reina, a poet, who lived from the year 1856 to 1905; Brother Juan Del Santisimo Sacramento, who is a 17th century painter; Rodolfo Gil, a poet and a prose writer; Agustin Robledo, a painter; Jose Bedmar, a flamenco dancer, lived from 1880 to 1970; a poet named Juan Rejano who lived from 1903 - 1976; Antonio Fernandez Diaz “Fosforito”, a flamenco singer during the year 1932; Juan Garcia, “Niño de Hierro” also a flamenco singer who lived during 1899 to 1987; a painter named Jose Perez De Siles; and Ricardo Molina, a poet;


IV. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS


A. Castillo Anzur


Anzur Castle or Castillo Anzur is situated in a hill near the town of Puente Genil in the province of Córdoba. With the castle being a well-known historical landmark in Córdoba, it has already been linked to the town of Puente Genil ever since its inception. Castillo Anzur are surrounded by exceptionally remarkable as well as significant archeological architectures, all from various cultures, such as the Iberian, Roman and the Arabic. This is mainly perhaps due to the vital strategic point in which it is located.


B. Liceo Mercantil


Liceo Mercantil is a masterpiece first created by Antonio López Muñoz-El Palomino and was designed by Rodrigo Garcia during the year 1897. Despite the fact that this building is already more than 100 years old, this remarkable and stunning building’s appearance still underwent through a few yet gradual modifications.


Liceo Mecantil is also known to be one of the few local urban testimonies that have survived through the test of time, with dignity and have attained significant part of the architectural landscape of the population.


C. Teatro Circo


Under the leadership of Rodrigo Garcia, the construction began during September 3, 1901. The name of this theater was given to pay tribute to the memory of “Teatro Circo De Rivas Y Solis”, which burned down in the year 1893. The said theater became open to public during the year 1902, and reopened once more in February 1995, after an extensive reform process. Teatro Circo was closed for three continuous decades following the floods during the year 1963.


Teatro Circo is also considered to be the main stage equipment of the town of Puente Genil, and is additionally described as a building of eclectic style, which includes both modernist and regionalist aspects. It contains 328 seats: 188 stalls, 24 boxes, 58 in the mezzanine, 30 in the first gallery and another 30 in the second.


D. Miragenil Bridge


The Miragenil Bridge or otherwise known as “El Puente de Miragenil” was built by Hernán Ruiz II during the year 1561 which was made of wood. During the year 1684, a ship sank the Miragenil Bridge immediately due to a flood. As a result, during the 18th century, they had to immediately reconstruct the said bridge, and in the year 1703, Master Matias Solano built two arches for the Miragenil Bridge. The reconstruction of the other half of the bridge was continued years later, particularly during the year 1728, the reconstruction of the bridge’s other half pending with Juan Antonio Camacho, former workers of the Duke of Medinaceli and also the master builder of Córdoba.


V. CELEBRATED OCCASSIONS


Notwithstanding that Puente Genil’s fair is held during the 15th towards the 19th of August, the most significant occasion for the townspeople of Puente Genil is during Easter or “Semana Santa”


The town of Puente Genil’s Holy Week, popularly known as the “Mananta” is one of the well-known religious manifestations most significant and unique in Andalusia.


Apart from commemorating the Passion, Death, and the Resurrection of Christ, Mananta often receives a unique impression which in turn, becomes significant and momentous for those first time visitors.


The celebration of Holy Week begins from Holy Saturday and ends on Easter Sunday,