History

A crossroads and natural border of the region. Its origins are somewhat unknown. Remains from the Copper Age have been studied. An ingot of lead from Roman times was also found, which gives an idea of the working of mines a long time ago.

The first news of Canjayar dates from the Al-Andalus period. The geographer Al-Udri tells us of the yuz of Qansayar, political-administrative district of the Alpujarra. Its hisn or castle must have been where the hermitage of San Blas stands today. In the XIV century and under the rule of the nazari dynasty it formed part of the area of Lúchar. Its system of ditches for irrigation is appointed by Madoz, during the mid-nineteenth century, for its originality.

Before the Moorish uprising (1568-1570), Canjayar had 690 Moorish inhabitants and 20 old Christians. After the expulsion, it was repopulated in 1574 with 72 people.

In 1788 a national lead factory was created in Alcora. In the XIX century cultivation of the Ohanes grape was begun which would bring with it important development.

The continuous crises of the beginning of the XX century, provoked the definitive close in 1924 of the American market for the Ohanes grape. This fact brought about a crisis which would last until the present day. The agriculture became more diversified and the vine was substituted by other varieties.