Aracena
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History
The first human settlements that are known about date from prehistoric times. Prehistoric and protohistoric remains have been found in relation to the Riotinto mining works. From the III millennium BC there are remains of lithic workshops in the cave Cueva de la Umbria. From the middle of the II millennium we find remains in the settlement of Castañuelo and also traces of the celtic culture which settled in the area in the V century BC.
The Romans settled in the I century and worked the mines of the area. They created small agricultural and livestock centres which sustained the settlement and which were probably the origin of Aracena and various other villages of the zone.
During Al-Andalus times, it acquired importance as demonstrated by the Castle's almohad tower and the Zulema fountain. In these times it depended on Niebla and Seville.
The Christian conquest was carried out by the Military Order of the Knights of the Hospital in the XIII century. It was given to the Order of the knights Templar by the Crown until 1213. Remains of the fortress still exist today.
At the end of the XV century, Aracena was the village with the highest population in the province of Huelva.
Subsequently, it was passed to the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Seville with the dissolution of the Templar and a Royal Priorate was constituted with dependence on the Crown.
In the times of Felipe IV it became a landed estate under the Count-Duke of Olivares, in the year 1640.
Eminent citizens
Jose Andres Vazquez y Perez, novelist, essayist and journalist.
