- El Padul
Spanish city
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native_name = El Padul
spanish_name = El Padul
nickname =
city_motto =
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image_coat_of_arms = Escudo_El_Padul.png
image_coat_of_arms_size = 80px
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image_city_map_size = 250px
image_city_map_caption = Location of El Padul
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native_language = Spanish
community = Andalusia
community_link = Andalusia
province = Granada
province_link = Granada (province)
comarca = Valle de Lecrín
comarca_link = Valle de Lecrín
divisions =
neighborhoods =
mayor = Manuel Alarcón Pérez
political_party = PSOE
political_party_link = Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
area = 89
altitude = 744
population = 7961
date-population = 2007
population-ranking =
density = 88,43
date-density = 2007
website = http://www.elpadul.es/
postal_code = 18640
area_code =El Padul is a
municipality of south-easternSpain , in the province of Granada, within the comarca of el Valle de Lecrín. The population on January 2007 was 7961 inhabitants. This town is situated 13 km at the south of the city ofGranada . Its altitude is 744 meters above the sea level.Geography
Borders
El Padul borders on
Alhendín ,Otura andDílar to the north, ;Dúrcal andVillamena to the east; Las Albuñuelas to the south andJayena to the west.Natural environment
* El Padul's wetland : One of the most important wetlands in south-eastern Spain, recently included in the
Ramsar Convention . It has the greatestpeatland of theMediterranean basin and it has also several threatened species.History
Etymology
The origin of the name of El Padul comes from the
Roman era , deriving from theLatin word "palus-paludis" and exactly from its accusative case "paludem" [cite news
first =
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author = Juan Martínez Ruiz
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title = El Padul y Cogollos, nombres andaluces de la época romana
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publisher = "Diario Ideal"
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date = January 6, 1986
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language = Spanish
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archivedate = ] , which means wetland or bog, clearly referring to El Padul's wetland.Due to the lack of known manuscripts talking about the name of the town along a period of time ranging several centuries, the phases of evolution of the Latin word are unknown, as well as the preceding
definite article "El". In relation to this point, two plausible possibilities are proposed: (1) The article could have appeared directly from the Latin word "ille", which originated the definite articles in allRomance languages . (2) The article could have appeared later with the Arabic article "al". Regardless this controversy, during the Nasrid period, Ibn al-Jatib wrote the word "Al-Badul" (in arabic spelling), with "B" because "P" does not exists in Arabic, although probably people used the sound "P".The modern name of El Padul appears in the first manuscripts written in
Spanish language in the 16th century. Among these manuscripts, the most important are the Parochial Archive and the Book of Surveying [Libro (del apeo) y demás instrumentos de la población del Padul del partido del Valle de Lecrín (1571). Manuel Ferrer. Ed: Ayuntamiento de El Padul.] written in 1571. In the latter is possible to read this sentence: "...que era de vecinos moriscos del dicho lugar El Padul...".In the 20th century, when the road signs started to be used, most of them were settled with the name of Padul without article, which has caused an important controversy about the real name of the town.
Towards the end of the 20th century, a cultural movement formed by several writers and History teachers of the town proposed to the town council to restore officially the whole name of the town. The result of that cultural movement took place on 18th December of 2000, when the Town Council chose the name El Padul as the official of the town. The proposal was accepted by unanimity of all the town councillors.
Prehistory (Origins)
In the municipality, numerous traces pertaining to different prehistoric periods have been found. Thus, in the land of the ancient wetland, close to a peat quarry, fossilized remains of
Mammuthus of theMiddle Pleistocene were found in 1982. A good example of a tusk is exposed in the Sciences Park ofGranada .The most ancient tracks of human presence match with theMiddle Paleolithic , includingprojectile point s andracloir s of theMousterian culture, which suggest the presence of settlements ofNeanderthal s near the wetland and close to importantcaves of the municipality.Neolithic remains are more abundant and are represented by vessels, bracelets, domestic and farming tools, etc.Culture
Monuments
* Casa Grande "(16th century)": Palace of civil character. This building served as a scenario for the film
The long duel starringYul Brynner .* Church of Santa María la Mayor "(16th - 18th centuries)"
* Chapel of Saint Sebastian "(18th century)".
* Source of the five pipes ("Lavadero") "(s. XVI-XIX)".
* Roman road: The remains of an ancient roman road that connected the cities of Ilíberis (
Granada ) and Sexi (Almuñécar ), located in the place known as "Los Molinos".Fiestas
The afternoon of 19th January, the people of El Padul go to the mountains that surround the town in order to look for firewood and aromatic plants. Then they make big pyres during the procession of
Saint Sebastian between the chapel and the church. The following day, 20th January, there is another procession with more huge pyres and gunshots. These days, people sing the local hymn of Saint Sebastian.The carnival is a traditional feasting period, where many disguised people sign humorous and satirical songs.
Within the
Holy Week , the procession of "Jesus Christ's Burial" in theGood Friday is of special relevance. This procession relates with 10 "pasos" (moving sculptures) all the Passion.The
Fair is celebrated the last weekend of September.Food, Agriculture and Tourism fair of the comarcas of
Valle de Lecrín , Temple and Costa Interior is celebrated between the 6th and 8th of December. At the same time is celebrated the day of wine and the day of pig slaughter.References
External links
* [http://www.elpadul.es/ Ayuntamiento de El Padul] (in Spanish)
* [http://www.turgranada.es/municipios/municipio.php?id_municipio=135&id_idioma=2 Tourist information of El Padul by the Tourist Board of Granada]
* [http://www.padulcofrade.com/ Information about El Padul (History, parties, links...)] (in Spanish)
* [http://www.padulcofrade.com/cofrade/ssanta_padul.html Holy Week in El Padul] (in Spanish)
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