Last Friday 14th March, 43 of us defied the rain for a most interesting guided walking tour of this little known area of Granada which has seen many civilizations. Elena had given us an excellent presentation the previous week, outlining 5,000 years of history in this area.
As usual, we had an excellent breakfast just outside Granada and then continued on to Maximo Colegio where we met Elena. The very imposing building was built in 1891 by the Jesuits. It is in neo-Mudejar style with much Islamic influences in the decor, particularly in the former chapel, now a museum. We then had a walk through the building, parts of which are now the University Dentistry department. In the corridors, there are also many original printing machines, previously used to produce the Patria newspaper (Falangist pro Franco Political Party).
We then walked to the Pharmaceutical Department to see a wonderful former Pharmacy from Cartagena, which was due to be destroyed but then offered to the University. Such pharmacies were particularly important for as well as dispensing medication, a back room would also be used for meetings among leading figures of the day. It was made from Canadian pine and has a beautifully painted ceiling. We then continued, despite continuing rainfall, to a 16th C kiln which had been used in the production of ceramics for which the area was very well known for many generations. We were then all ready to adjourn to a restaurant, tucked away into the bullring, where we enjoyed an excellent lunch – all traces of discomfort from the rain seemed to disappear !
Our bus collected us from outside the bullring for our journey back to Nerja.
Christina Sinclair
Co-ordinator
Nerja History Group
email:nerjahistorygroup@yahoo.com
www.nerjahistorygroup.com