Diezma

Diezma
Diezma Location in Spain.
Coordinates: 37°19′N 3°20′W / 37.317°N 3.333°W / 37.317; -3.333
Country	Spain
Province	Granada
Comarca	Guadix
Government
- Mayor	José Jesús García Rodríguez
Area
- Total	41 km2 (15.8 sq mi)
Elevation	1,233 m (4,045 ft)
Population (2009)
- Total	816
- Density	19.9/km2 (51.5/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Diezma is a municipality located in the province of Granada, Spain.

It lies between the Sierra de Huétor Natural Park and the new reservoir of Francisco Abellan.

History

Some think the name of this municipality came from the Roman era and others from the tributes that were paid to the Church during the phase of the Visigoths. In any case, it is clear that during the Roman Empire, Diezma was a kind of hospice for travellers who were on the Via Augusta between Acci and Iliberis. Later, during the Islamic domination of Spain it became a farming country.

It suffered frequent incursions of the Zirids first, and then knights of Alfonso VI before the final conquest by the Catholic Monarchs. In 1536 it was purchased from the Crown of Castile by Luis Guiral who acquired the title of Mayorazgo Diezma. In the 20th century it was a busy first stopping place on the main road from Granada to Murcia and Almería. Later it returned a quiet town, farming olives and cherries and producing anise in which it also preserves its cherries.